Gene doping: Present and future.

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Genetics
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Elite athletic competition drives the pursuit of performance enhancement.
• Doping methods have evolved significantly with scientific advancements.
• Gene doping represents the latest frontier in performance-enhancing substances.

Observation:

• This article provides a bibliographic survey of gene doping from 1983 to 2018.
• Gene therapy advancements are rapidly increasing the potential for gene doping.
• No approved detection techniques for gene doping currently exist.

Findings:

• The sophistication of gene doping techniques is rapidly increasing.
• The rapid advancement of gene therapy makes gene doping eradication nearly impossible.
• Existing anti-doping strategies are insufficient to address gene doping.

Implications:

• The potential for gene doping necessitates urgent ethical and regulatory discussions.
• Proactive measures are crucial to prevent irreversible consequences in sports.
• Future anti-doping policies must adapt to biotechnological progress.