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October 01, 2002
IOC Bans Genetically Engineered Athletes:
IOC Bans Genetically Engineered Athletes: Not content with closing loopholes when it comes to athletes using steroids, the folks at the World Anti-Doping Agency has also taken action when it comes to athletes who might use genetic engineering to gain a competitive edge, as this Reuters story reports: Designer arms, legs and muscles, genetically engineered to produce gold medallists, have been banned in a pre-emptive strike against gene manipulation in sport. Gene doping or engineering is regarded as the next major battleground against ruthless competitors who want to cheat their way to glory. From the start of next year "cell doping" will be added to the prohibited list of substances and methods alongside steroids, stimulants and growth hormones which are already banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which organizes drug-testing worldwide, have written just one sentence into their new list of banned substances and methods for which competitors can be banned. But the 25 words prove that the sport's world no longer considers the idea of manufacturing a "designer arm" to win Wimbledon or "super-knees" for Olympic downhill glory as the subjects of science fiction. They threaten to become reality. "Gene or cell doping is defined as the non-therapeutic use of genes, genetic elements and/or cells that have the capacity to enhance athletic performance, " the Olympic movement's Anti-Doping Code said. WADA chief Dick Pound said: "By introducing the notion of genetic doping into the list at this time, we at WADA and the IOC are taking into account the important changes occurring in doping techniques." It's at a time like this that I usually remind myself to read up on genetic engineering. Until that time, I'll reserve my comments to a simple mystified shake of the head.
Eric
11:42 PM
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