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Ethical Aspects of Controlling Genetic Doping

Ethical Aspects of Controlling Genetic Doping. Christian Munthe Department of Philosophy, Göteborg University. Genetic Interventions: Prospects of Detection 1. Genetic Testing (as the basis for (pre)selection) Gamete, embryo, fetus / child, adolescent, grown-up

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Ethical Aspects of Controlling Genetic Doping

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  1. Ethical Aspects of Controlling Genetic Doping Christian Munthe Department of Philosophy, Göteborg University

  2. Genetic Interventions: Prospects of Detection 1 • Genetic Testing (as the basis for (pre)selection) • Gamete, embryo, fetus / child, adolescent, grown-up • (Pre)selection against sports related health risks • (Pre)selection for sports related ‘extra talents’ • Impossible to detect • Probably impossible to classify as doping anyway • Germ-line Genetic Modification • Gamete, 1-5 day embryo • Construction of individuals that carry an initial genetic ‘extra talent’ for (specific) sports • Impossible to distinguish from ‘natural’ mutations • Impossible to detect • Perhaps impossible to classify as doping anyway

  3. Genetic Interventions: Prospects of Detection 2 • Somatic Genetic Modification • Modification of (some part of) the initial genetic make-up of an individual’s own cells • Transplantation of ‘foreign’ genetically modified (or otherwise genetically suitable) cells • In their natural place (muscle cells in the muscles etc.) • Hidden depots • Repair, cure or prevent disease or injury • Enhance initial athletic capacities • No sharp line to be found • Unclear what changes are to be classified as doping • Can perhaps be detected through genetic testing, but... • Credible control programs will probably require initial complete genome scans + very many and repeated tests from many different parts of the body

  4. Ethical Issues in Genetic Testing (crash course) • Safety and burdens of sample taking • More relevant for the sports context • Reliability of predictions • Risks of misunderstanding • Handling of ‘extra’ information • Probably even more relevant for the sports context • Risks of harm but also chances of benefit • Third party interests • Relatives • Insurance companies, employers etc. • Requirement of Informed Consent • Need for Genetic Counselling • What is ‘good enough’ to offer to patients?

  5. Consequences for the Sports Context 1 • Athletes not as initially vulnerable as patients • Athletes less prepared for information of consequence for health and well-being • Risks and burdens in some ways much more serious in the sports context • Much less is at stake if testing is not done • Stronger responsibility to minimise harm in the sports context

  6. Consequences for the Sports Context 2 • Strong case for initial information and counselling • Preparedness for dealing with consequences of ‘extra information’ imperative • Classic informed consent model impossible (opting out means being excluded from competition) • There is a limit to what hardships and risks should be required of athletes in order to secure competitions free of ‘gene doping’ • Sports officials have to consider that ethical reasons may: • Make control programs much more expensive and complicated • Impede the realization of the goal of making competitions free of gene doping • Make gene doping bans vulnerable to strategic choices of gene doping procedures that would require too budensome testing procedures to be detected

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