Gene based doping in sports – latest
The recent Tour de France drug violations show further evidence that sport is rife with illegal drug taking to enhance performance and achieve that ‘extra mile’. There are mega bucks at stake alongside the dream of become a World and Olympic champion. I imagine that if you’ve invested your entire life to your chosen sport the lure of taking banned performance enhancing drugs to help you achieve your dreams is with you night and day.
The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) in Montreal, Canada is charged with monitoring the conduct of athletes. It is working with investigators around the globe to develop a test that would ’out’ competitors for injecting themselves with genetic material capable of enhancing body mass or performance. At present there are no tests to check if an athlete has injected his/herself with DNA or genetically modified naturally occurring body materials eg red blood cells.
The shadier groups in sports appear to be taking an interest in gene doping. Several potential targets of gene doping have emerged, including the gene for erythropoietin, or EPO. A bio-engineered version of the hormone is currently available on the market. It increases red blood cell production in patients with anemia and boosts oxygen delivery to the body. In athletes, this means boosts to stamina and therefore, by definition, a competitive edge.
However the development of gene based doping is not without its dangers – allergic reactions, body rejections, over-production of blood cells/muscle/hormones, DNA mutations are all potential side-effects of taking these substances. If any of these events happen it could be career-wrecking to the sportsman/woman.
There is an interesting press release just out from University of Florida who have a US-French research team looking at ways to detect evidence of ‘doped’ DNA. There is a long way to go as how do you tell the difference between normal cells and genetically modified cells? Tricky to do for genetically modified crops, right now.
I’m sure the first of the gene doping tests will come onto the market over the next few years, but for me there is no place in this world for cheating … but I’ve never dedicated my life to one sport, so who am I to give judgement?
For further information go to:
http://news.ufl.edu/2007/08/06/doping Media contact: Ann Griswold
Penny
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I think there is a place for gene modification. Why not?If a person wants to live in a 100 percent natural world, then live in the woods. Yes there are dangers in new areas, and wrinkles that need to be ironed out, but that comes in every arena.