Genetic modification of athletes: To ban or not

1
Genetic modification of athletes To ban or not

• Team 6

2
Thesis Statement

• The genetic modification of athletes should be
  banned otherwise, ordinary athletes could
  unknowingly compete with modified athletes
  creating an unequal playing field.

3
Considerations

• Allowing or banning should be considered with the
  following aspects
• Ethical
• Athletes should participate in competitions that
  compare ability, strength and training under
  equal conditions (Unal Unal, 2004).
• Medical
• Athletes must be protected from adverse effects
  of medical treatment

4
Conflicts
pro - ban

• Ordinary athletes have to train twice as hard as
  compared to genetically modified athletes to
  achieve the same result (Sweeney, 2002)
• Genetic modification decreases the likelihood of
  an athlete getting injured (Klie, 2004)
• It is hard to detect gene therapy so athletes are
  able to slip under the radar

5
Needs
pro - ban

• A clean sporting environment where there is
  equality (no modified athletes!)
• For ordinary athletes to be confident that none
  of their competitors have an extra advantage
• For sporting officials to recognize when an
  athlete has undergone modification

6
Concerns
pro - ban

• Modified athletes will try to hide that they have
  been modified and continue to compete against
  ordinary athletes
• That sporting officials will encourage genetic
  modification
• There will be no direct ban of gene doping so
  modified athletes will continue having the upper
  hand advantage

7
Conflicts
con

• Some are born athletic
• aactinin-3 protein
• Sprinting
• Health
• Faster Healing
• Prone to fewer injuries
• broken bones
• Safety
• Is gene therapy safe?

8
Needs
con

• Equality
• Countries around the world to compete on an equal
  setting
• Records
• A system to keep track of your DNA

9
Concerns
con

• Medicine
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Acctinin-3 protein
• Health
• Dangerous
• Double edged sword
• Abuse

10
Options
pro - ban

• Before each competition, check every athletes
  medical background.
• Charge dishonest athletes.
• Only ordinary athletes are allowed in the same
  competitions with each other.
• Set up another competition for genetically
  modified athletes only.

11
Meet Needs
pro - ban

• Ordinary athletes do not have to train twice as
  hard to achieve the same results with genetically
  modified athletes.
• In competitions, athletes will compete with
  others without anyone having an extra advantage.
• Fair competitions for every athlete.

12
Options
con

• Allow for segregated events genetically
  modified Olympics and leagues.
• Allow athletes to compete in any competition
  regardless of genetic modification.
• Genetically modified athletes must be monitored
  for signs of ill health.
• Use of willing athletes as a testing ground for
  genetic enhancements that could lead to medical
  breakthroughs.

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Solution 1Create three leagues for
pro - ban

• Modified athletes
• Modified leagues allow only modified athletes to
  compete
• Unmodified athletes
• Unmodified leagues allow ordinary athletes feel
  fair in competitions against the same class.
• Both
• Unmodified athletes can choose to compete against
  modified ones as they wish to.

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Solution 2Athletes Identification
pro - ban

• Athletes health and medical condition
• A personal identification that can easily
  identify whether the athlete has been modified or
  not.

15
Solution 3 Rules against illegal gene
modification
pro - ban

• Penalize athletes who have illegally modified
  themselves by removing their right to participate
  in competition.
• The penalty is to assure the fairness of sport
  when unmodified athletes are in competition with
  their own class.

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Pro Solutions
pro - ban

• Applying these solutions can help to make a
  better and fairer environment for unmodified
  athletes to compete against their own class.
• Not only do the unmodified get benefits, but the
  ones who choose to be modified can also compete
  in a totally legal environment.

17
con
Solution 1

• Create two separate leagues, one for just
  unmodified athletes, and one where both modified
  and unmodified athletes can play.

• This way only athletes who want to play against
  modified ones have to.
• Cant saying theyre being put on an unfair
  playing field because it was their choice in the
  first place.

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Solution 2
con
Genetically modify athletes who do not have genes
that others do to help level the playing field,
and make sure that modification is documented.

• This once again removes any idea from an athletes
  head that they are competing on a unfair playing
  field, and will allow fans to see the best
  competition available.

19
Solution 3
con

• Creation of an International body to monitor
  Genetic Modification of athletes.
• To deter illegal modification, set strict
  first-time penalties to those who are caught,
  such as a lifetime ban or lengthy suspension (5
  years ).

20
Con Solutions
con

• By implementing these solutions, we will be able
  to allow genetic modification of athletes without
  tainting leagues where they are not wanted.
• Spectators will get best of both worlds.

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Conclusion

• Creation of separate leagues.
• Creation of international body to monitor
  modified athletes.

22
References

• Klie, S. (2004, October 9). The First Genetically
  Modified Olympics. Retrieved February 17, 2005,
  from        http//www.betterhumans.com/Features/
  Reports/repo rt.aspx?articleID2004-08-09-1
• Knight, W. (2004). Study raises fears of
  genetically modified athletes. New Scientist.
  Retrieved January 19, 2005, from
  http//www.newscientist.com/article.ns?iddn4688
• Sweeney, H. (2004). Gene Doping. Scientific
  American, 291, 62-69. Retrieved February 17,
  2005, from HSSI database.
• Unal, M. Unal, D. O. (2004) Gene Doping in
  Sports. Sports Medicine. Vol. 34 Issue 6, p357,
  6p Retrieved February 19, 2005, from
  http//search.epnet.com.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/login.as
  px?dir ecttruedbafhan13208489