Genetic doping is next Olympic threat Athletes once used
ginseng, opium and steroids from sheep testicles to enhance
their performance. Anabolic steroids made their sporting debut
in the 1940s and 50s and other agents followed. Now the big fear
is that advances in biotechnology and gene therapy could result
in genetically modified athletes with the bodies of Greek gods
and the prowess of Superman overwhelming ordinary mortals at
future Olympics. Gene therapy to treat or prevent disease has
not developed as fast as scientists had initially hoped. But it
is moving forward and it could be just a matter of time before
it infiltrates sport. "If the science develops and the
regulatory and ethical frameworks are not properly established,
I think there is a danger. We've seen it with the use of drugs
that were developed for therapeutic purposes," said Dick Pound,
president of the Montreal-based World Anti-Doping Agency. "The
science could probably be misapplied." Genetic doping is
unlikely to be an issue at the Athen