August 10, 2016
Gene doping, if it’s happening or if it’s going to happen, are hot topics during the Rio Olympics. News reports surfaced this past week about WADA’s intent to conduct doping testing via a blood test developed to detect copies of the “EPO gene” — which increases red blood cell counts, leading to superior athletic performance. But there are other genes besides EPO that could boost performance and ways to administer enhancements not detectable by a blood test. Even current tests used to detect conventional doping are not sophisticated enough to catch all cases. Michael Le Page discusses gene doping in his article Gene doping in sport could make the Olympics fairer and safer. Le Page argues that there is no way to effectively stop doping and that the ban should be lifted as a result. He considers and counters oft-raised moral objections and provides solutions for better integration of a new playing field.