GENETIC DOPING, ENHANCEMENT, AND THERAPY: AN ETHICAL ANALYSIS IN THE CONTEXT OF COMPETITIVE SPORT

In the realm of sports, a domain characterized by skill, competition, and entertainment, the consensus stands firm—cheating is unequivocally wrong. Violations extend beyond the traditional realm of illicit substances like stimulants and steroids to encompass emerging technological advancements, notably gene doping. Gene doping involves the utilization of genetic-altering technology to augment human performance, introducing a new dimension to the ethical discourse surrounding sports. Despite its designation as a banned practice by numerous sports agencies, there are scenarios where the deployment of this technology warrants consideration and even ethical approval. This analysis delves into the prospects of gene doping, elucidates fundamental sports principles like fairness and health from the “spirit of the sport”, presents a multifaceted ethical argument defending the judicious use of gene technology in these areas of contention, and provides a solution in the form of a divisional regulation to alleviate the problem of increased administration of genetic enhancement.