A Lament for Ancient Games in Modern World of Doping

A Lament for Ancient Games in Modern World of Doping(2004, Aug 3) New York Times by C. Driefus[link]

This is an article/interview with Thomas H. Murray, President of The Hastings Center [who also wrote the forward for GMA]. The article is not specifically about gene doping, though Murray does suggest that Athens might be remembered as the 'Gene Games'.

While Murray and others have indicated that gene doping should not be a concern for Athens 2004, he does draw atention to work that is paving the way for such applications.

Of particular concern to Murray is the prospect that athletes might be misled into believing that they have been enhanced by a scientist, when, in fact, they could not have been.

Doping and the Olympics: Citius, Altius, Fortius - Purius?

Doping and the Olympics: Citius, Altius, Fortius - Purius?(2004, Aug/Sept) Update: New York Academy of Sciences Magazine, by Diane Kightlinger [link]

This article is more than just about genetically modified athletes. Kightlinger discusses the development of anti-doping in sport, detailing some of the landmarks in its history. Ted Friedmann, Geoffrey Goldspink, and WADA Science Director Olivier Rabin are interviewed and Rabin is optimistic about devising tests for gene doping. Thomas Murray of the Hastings Center is also quoted, stating that drug testing in the past has not been given the necessary political impetus it required. This, he suggests, is beginning to change. Murray is leading a USADA project, which is looking at the ethics of performance enhancement in sport and is now Chair of the Ethics and Education Committee in WADA.

Super human, super sport

Super human, super sport [GMA mention] (2004, July 25) The Observer, K. Mitchell. [link] Questioning the value of prohibiting drug use in sport, this article recognises that this is a problem that is impossible to solve. Indeed, the logic of sport requires that athletes seek performance enhancing drugs.

Gene doping will produce super breed of athletes, says scientist

Gene doping will produce super breed of athletes, says scientist [GMA mention] (2004, July 25) The Independent on Sunday by J. Thompson. Article surrounding the publication of Genetically Modified Athletes by Andy Miah. Dr. Oliver Rabin from WADA is also interviewed recognising the immediacy of this issue.

Top athletes seek gene therapy boost

Top athletes seek gene therapy boost(2004, July 11) The Observer, by Campbell, D. and McKie, R. [link]

Lee Sweeney's work is the focus of this article, which reinforces the immediacy of this matter. Quotes from Michele Verroken former head of UK Sport's anti-doping agency emphasise the risk of this technology and the flawed perception that it would be safe. Ken Fitch of WADA's boad comments on the prospect of increasing jump capacity in high-jump, though the article recognises that opinion is divided on how soon it will be before athletes use it.

Gene Doping

Gene Doping (2004, July) Associated Press, by H. Lee Sweeney [link]

Lee Sweeney's work has been critical on this issue. As a scientist, this article discusses many of the scientific findings and new research emerging in relation to gene doping. It is an essential article in the history of this issue and obscures many other papers that discuss the science.

Professor Urges Alternate View

Professor Urges Alternate View [GMA mention] (2004, June 17) Contra Costa Times by R. Myers [link] This article arises partly out of the BALCO scandals, though is focused specifically on gene doping.

Quote from article: "An athlete's capacity to be a noble or a honorable performer goes far beyond whether they're taking drugs or not," said Andy Miah of the University of Paisley in Scotland. His is one of a few voices urging more ethical debate on performance enhancers in athletics.

Football Genes [GMA Mention]

Football Genes [GMA Mention](2002, Feb 21) Champions Magazine by S. Aldridge

Feature article for UEFA's official magazine, days in advance of Euro 2004. Lee Sweeney's work from March features as one of the key innovations. Also, the gene map published each year in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise is mentioned. Also, the prospect of using gene therapy to speed up the recovery process is mentioned; an area that continues to lack attention.

A Very Muscular Baby Offers Hope Against Diseases

A Very Muscular Baby Offers Hope Against Diseases (2004, Jun 24) New York Times by Gina Kolata [link]

This article relates to Markus Schuelke's research published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It details a study of a young boy who had extraordinarly large muscles, due to a myostatin abnormality. It demonstrates that myostatin functions similar to how it works in animals. The 'mighty mice' of other studies look to be replicated here in humans.

Doping policies all over the map in sports [GMA mention]

Doping policies all over the map in sports [GMA mention](2004, May 29) Associated Press, by Steve Wilstein [link]

This AP article features stats from its recent poll on what Americans think about steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs in sport. It paints a very grim picture of what people think about sports, but is doubtful of this having any affect on how many people will watch the Olympics.

Article picked up by CNNSi, Columbia Daily Tribune, Fox News, SFGate, among others.

Quote from article: "There is no clear view about the value of genes in sport, by either natural endowment or modification, bioethicist Andy Miah says. Attempts, then, by sporting authorities to apply anti-doping criteria to genetic modification may lead to wrongheaded policies.

Even the term "gene doping," as used by WADA in confronting the specter of trouble on the horizon, is an inaccurate representation of genetic modification, Miah argues in his upcoming book, "Genetically Modified Athletes."

Experts believe first gene doping cases are around the corner

Experts believe first gene doping cases are around the corner(2004, Apr 17) Associated Press, by Toby Sterling [link]

This article derives from the Gene doping seminar in Utrecht. The meeting was sponsored by WADA and NeCeDo and was scientific in nature. Presenters included Ted Friedmann and Olivier Rabin. Scientists were generally pessimistic at the prospect of gene doping and the meeting emphasied the need for funding research into tackling this problem (but not ethical research!).

Scientists again predict it will not be long before this is a big problem for elite sport, suggestnig that it will appear first in animal sports.

the fight against genetic doping

the fight against genetic doping(2004, Apr 14) USA Today by S. Ruibal [link]

In advance of the gene doping workshop in Utrecht, this article begins by identifying the potential 'black market' of gene doping. This is perhaps the first media article where the deviant nature of gene doping has arisen. The article mentions the Soviet situation as particularly alarming, where a number of gene therapy clinics are set-up, but with limited regulation.

Genetic engineering is next doping

Genetic engineering is next doping(2004, Mar 19) Reuters, by P. Reaney [link]

Scientists predict that Beijing is the most immediate contest where gene doping is likely to be present. This prediction notes a shift in some scientist's perspective, which have, for the last few years, claimed Athens is a likely hot-spot for gene doping. These comments must be seen in context. As there is no testing procedure for gene doping at Athens, it seems preferable to imagine that no such enhancements are taking place. Certainly, it is contested as to whether the science is ready, but enough scientists have been quoted as claiming that the science required for some forms of gene doping is not futuristic.

Gene cheats

Gene cheats (2004, Feb 17) Guardian, by T. Radford [link]

Emerging from the AAAS meeting in 2004, Sweeney's work on IGF-1 is high on the agenda. Sweeney mentions that athletes have already approached him asking whether they can do anything to genetically enhance their performance.

Study raises fears of genetically modified athletes

Study raises fears of genetically modified athletes(2004, Feb 17) New Scientist, by W. Knight [link]

Another article related to Lee Sweeney's research published in the Journal of Applied Physiology. The article notes that a lot of trainers have been approached by athletes to genetically enhance themselves. One of the interesting points identified in this articl is that genetic modification could result in other bodily imbalance. For example, bigger muscles could damage bone structures.

Gene doping is 'new frontier' for sports cheats

Gene doping is 'new frontier' for sports cheats (2004, Feb 16) The Times, by M. Henderson [link]

Emerging largely out of the Lee Sweeney research publishedin March 2004 in the Journal of Applied Physiology, this article discusses the presentation of that research at the American Association of the Advancement of Science meeting. The panel included Thomas Murray (author of the foreword for GMA and President of the Hastings Center).

Each of the panel members recognised this as an inevitable application to sport and likely to be used long before therapeutic applications are permitted.

Richard Pound, WADA Chair, is cautious with predicting its use at Athens 2004, but this kind of speculation is not straightforward to make.

Athlete cheats seek genetic boost

Athlete cheats seek genetic boost(2004, 16 February) by Jonathon Amos [link]

This interview is based on the research emerging from the Lee Sweeney labs, published in the Journal of Applied Physiology in March 2004. Sweeney notes the interest his work generates from athletes who want to utilise this technology to boost performance. The article also quotes Thomas Murray from the Hastings Centre and Dick Pound, WADA Chairman.

In Pursuit of Doped Excellence

In Pursuit of Doped Excellence(2004, Jan 18) The New York Times Magazine, by Michael Sokolove

This article begins by reviewing Lee Sweeney's work at University of Pennsylvania, which has appeared in the press a number of times, when discussing the prospect of genetically modified athletes.Sokolove describes the ke issues for athletes as 'health, fair play, and...legality', whereas for spectacctors 'the issues are largely philosophical and aesthetic'.

This is a very substantial article and surely one of the better journalistic pieces written recently. Sokolove recognises that the line between what is legal and illegal is terribly blurred.

The artice does not really offer any helpful conclusions and is rather pessimistic about the future of sport, as if its morality and value relies on solving the doping issue. It does not!

Local gene therapy in doping would be hard to prove

Local gene therapy in doping would be hard to prove(2003, 31 October) by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung [link]

This is a particularly interesting article, which isn't premised on the usual research. Bernd Wolfarth has been working on various projects relating to 'performance genes' for a number of years and the work has gained significant attention. No promises to performance genes are made here, but important links are stressed between performance and genetics.

Experts warn of gene threat

Experts warn of gene threat(2003, 9 October) by BBC [link]

Geoff Goldspink from UCL mentions that testing for gene doping is almost there, though a number of scientists are skeptical of this.