PAISLEY ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHTS ETHICAL CONCERNS OF GENETIC TESTING
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Dr Andy Miah of the University of Paisley’s School of Media, Language & Music, highlighted ethical concerns regarding genetic research into athletic ability at the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science’s annual conference on 12 September 2007.

Dr Miah delivered a speech regarding the ethics of genetic research in sport at the prestigious annual conference, which was held at the University of Bath.

The presentation was part of the launch of a report, titled ‘Genetic Research and Testing in Sport and Exercise Science’, which recommends more genetic research in the sport and exercise sciences.

Although Dr Miah argues that genetic research into athletic ability should be encouraged for the likely knowledge that will be gained to assist with medial treatment, such as knowledge about how to minimise exercise induced injuries or to avoid sudden cardiac death when competing in sports, at the conference he drew attention to some of the ethical concerns with this research.

Dr Miah, who is a co-author of ‘Genetic Research and Testing in Sport and Exercise Science’ with four other academics from UK universities, said: "The possibility of using genetic tests to predict and determine who will be the next gold medal winners is an issue about to break. The implications are huge and this is why we need clear directives for professionals soon. 

“In 2005, I took part in the World Anti-Doping Agency meeting where the Stockholm Declaration was developed indicating concern about genetic tests. This report is the first national elaboration on this issue and it will be crucial to other nations affected by this subject. Genetic testing for performance could be a further system with which to discriminate against those who are genetically inferior. Another way of eliminating the future underdog before he or she even makes it to the final heat. As such, research and the implementation of tests must be discussed extensively.

“What’s more, since there is talk of using this with young children, we might be approaching the unwelcome situation where a child’s enjoyment of sport needs to be justified against some likelihood of competitive success. So, we might imagine a situation where a child is only permitted to play sport, providing they are likely to become a medal winner. This could have the effect of complete disenchantment with elite sport and a strong social resistance to its entire foundation, or the further alienation of the athlete and its treatment as a mere producer of performance, rather than a hero or role model.

"Genetic tests appear to adopt the task of telling the future to us and I'm not sure that the best life is led by pursuing only those activities that lead to extrinsic successes, such as medals. What matters is that people feel intrinsically motivated to participate in sport.

"There are further implications to genetic research. For example, over the last few years, we have seen a closer relationship between anti-doping authorities and the police. There is a lot of talk about the prospects of undertaking DNA tests to monitor the biology of athletes, so as to assist with identifying doping. While we recognize the benefits of this development, we also draw attention to the broader questions it raises about the limits of anti-doping and the conditions within which it is deemed legitimate.

“I worry that we are all too willing to relinquish athletes’ liberties in order to preserve a bogus ethical view of sport. It would not surprise me if the anti-gene-doping fight provides a justification for submitting athletes to DNA surveillance on a level that is unprecedented in the Western world. This possibility reminds us why the use of genetic information in sport has far wider implications than just preserving fair competitions. There may come a point where so much surveillance will compromise the appeal of becoming an elite athlete."

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