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

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

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

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

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

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