Athletes Genotyping: Ethical and Legal Issues

In a recent issue of this journal, An et al. provided evidence that a significant extent of the individual response to endurance training appears under the influence of certain putative genes [[1]]. Almost simultaneously, Yang et al. demonstrated that a common R577 X polymorphism in the gene encoding for α-actinin-3, a skeletal muscle actin-binding protein responsible for generating force at high velocity, might produce advantages in athletes carrying the 577 R allele [[4]]. Such remarkable evidence confirms the presence of an unequivocal genetic influence on athletic performance, giving rise to novel and intriguing ethical and legal issues [3]. Beside emerging problems of gene doping, revolutionary advances in biotechnology have allowed the recognition of several genetic polymorphisms promoting sport advantages, which might finally disclose unpredictable scenarios in the selection and recruitment of elite and professional athletes [[2]]. The early recognition of young athletes' predisposition to train harder, to sprint rather than endurance athletic performances, is indeed an attractive perspective, allowing children and adolescents to select the most suitable sport discipline. Nevertheless, the knowledge of an athlete's genotype might hypothetically preclude engagements and/or influence salaries. Two independent features traditionally condition athletic performances: congenital inclination and environmental influence (form and amount of training). Several elite or professional athletes achieve acceptable results with increased training compensating genetic limitations. It is conceivable that the identification of genetic disadvantages might influence the future of these athletes, irrespective of results achieved and training commitment. Therefore, we believe that caution should be observed in widespread use of athletes' genotyping; a strict limit of permissibility should be adhered to and evidence of possible genetic limitation or advantage in athletic performances should remain strictly confidential. A final concern comes from the potential influence of planning offspring between top-class athletes with the aim of generating children that would carry genotypes of champions and thus creating a class of potential super-athletes that might preclude sport accomplishments by large groups of “normal” athletes, making results of major sport events easily predictable.

References

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• 2 Murray T H. An Olympic tail?.  Nat Rev Genet. 2003;  4 494
• 3 Patel D R, Greydanus D E. Genes and athletes.  Adolesc Med. 2002;  13 249-255
• 4 Yang N, MacArthur D G, Gulbin J P, Hahn A G, Beggs A H, Easteal S, North K. ACTN3 genotype is associated with human elite athletic performance.  Am J Hum Genet. 2003;  73 627-631