London 2012: GMO in sport: Genetically Modified Olympians?
Baku, July 18 (AZERTAC). Observers said science will not prevail in time for the games that start on July 27.
While no-one is sure whether "gene doping" is actually happening yet, the theoretical possibility of people fiddling with their DNA to boost power and endurance is one that scares sport officials.
In theory, gene doping could see athletes injecting lab-fabricated DNA into their bodies through a carrier, like a virus, to stimulate the production of muscle-growing hormones or red blood cells that shuttle oxygen to the muscles.
A virus works by forcing its own DNA into human cells, which then replicate the DNA containing biological instructions.
In 2006, the sporting world was forced to sit up and take notice when a German athletics coach was accused of seeking to obtain an experimental gene therapy called Repoxygen ahead of the Winter Olympics.
Considered a possible treatment for anaemia, Repoxygen contained a synthetic virus that carries a gene for erythropoietin (EPO) -- a hormone that tells the body to make more red blood cells.
EPO is a favourite doping agent of cyclists and runners.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) added gene doping to its list of prohibited substances and methods in 2003, and has spent millions of dollars on developing a test.
Using existing techniques, the odds of finding foreign DNA in an athlete are "probably similar to finding a needle in a haystack", said Williams, but added it should be possible "within a few years".
Under the new rules, an Olympic athlete's blood and urine samples can be kept for up to eight years, meaning it can be retrospectively tested for gene doping once an accurate test is in place.
More than 6,000 blood and urine samples are to be taken at the London Olympics.
The experts warn that gene therapy, even in tests for treating diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's and diabetes, is still in its infancy and risky.
Added Catlin: "One crude way to learn about it is if athletes started to drop dead."
But while gene doping may still be in the starting blocks, this is unlikely to stop determined cheaters.
As cheaters run out of drugs that the authorities don't have a method to detect, gene doping is the next frontier.
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