Why Is Gene Doping In Sports Ethical

The Controversial Viewpoints on Gene Doping
Is gene doping in sports ethical? Gene doping is the case of genetic enhancement for purposes of athletic competition; it should not be confused with gene therapy. Gene doping is controversial because it is a modification to the body to turn it into something that it wasn’t intended to be. It’s like plastic surgery on a cellular level, some are against plastic surgery, and some people are okay with it. Stake-holders of this topic may be coaches, athletes, gamblers, and even the FDA. Everybody’s reasons for advocating gene doping are different, gamblers might advocate it so that way the athlete they’re betting on has the upper hand against their competitor, and coaches might do it so they have a
better, stronger team. Their values and beliefs revolve around money, winning, and being better than their competition. Viewpoints on this topic range from negative, positive, and neutral standpoints. These three viewpoints will be explored further on in detail in this paper.
The first viewpoint that will be discussed is gene doping from a negative standpoint. Gene doping has a reputation of being a highly controversial activity, which has been extremely controversial. Gene doping occurs in many different activities. Gene doping occurs mostly in sporting events, and could cause numerous potential difficulties for the athlete’s body and mind. From swimming, track, and football, gene doping has been used in all sports. Another problem that gene doping has been known to cause is an unfair advantage. I would have to appeal to the principle of justice; gene doping is unjust because it gives enhanced athletes an unfair advantage over the unenhanced. Not only is this misuse an injustice, but it can cause undeniably horrendous side effects. Because of gene doping being illegal, user injects themselves with steroids in order to become stronger and faster. Some of the numerous side effects of gene doping are very severe, and this should be the main concern for those who condone gene doping. Gene doping could lead to tumors, because of the steroid being targeted into the wrong cells by the needle being injected by the user. Obvious effects would be disease and a severe virus. Gene doping involves using a needle, sanitary or unsanitary, and injected it into the user’s body. The same principle occurs with drug use, is the needle that is being used to inject steroids into the body really sterile? One might not know until days or weeks after when they contract something from serious from this illegal misuse. Is a fatal disease or virus, really worth an unfair advantage in sports? The answer is no, because one’s body must be taken care of appropriately.
The second viewpoints that will be discussed are the positive effects that gene doping involves.
These include the user becoming stronger, faster, and better than other athletes. Numerous popular athletes have been known for using gene doping in order to enhance their performance. There’s a reason why that these athletes and Olympians use this method for enhancement, it works. Gene doping is the non-therapeutic use of cells, genes, genetic elements, or of the modulation of gene expression, having the capacity to improve athletic performance. This can cause users to be so enhanced that they can perform with a completely enhanced advantage, against their competitors who do not use steroids. The use of gene doping can lead to winning competitions, prize money, and fame. Being able to perform on a much higher level than competitors gives the obvious advantages to the user. Sports are known to be extremely competitive, and gene doping will give the athlete a complete advantage. Something very usual that happens in sporting events is gambling. The gamblers use money in order to invest in athletes which have the best performance. Since higher performance is known for users of gene doping, gamblers will invest in those who use gene doping to their advantage. The higher the performance of the athlete, the more money that will be won by both the athlete and the gambler. Overall, the positive effects of gene doping include advantages, money, and fame that can all be obtained from gene
doping.
The last standpoint that will be discussed is the neutral standpoint on gene doping. Neutral viewpoints observe both the positive and negative effects of gene doping in athletes, and other activities. Neutral viewpoints could include that the user should be able to use because it is their body, and that is their right. If the user wants to put their own health at risk, that should be the user’s decision.
As discussed in this paper, gene doping has numerous standpoints by on lookers. My opinion on this subject is very clear. I believe that gene doping gives the user an unfair advantage. This advantage is only a positive effect of the overall negative side effects that are included in the use of gene doping. Gene doping affects the user’s health in such a negative way. Gene doping should not be used in any type of athletic sporting events, because of its’ negative side effects to the users health and the completely unfair advantage that it gives to those who use it in sporting events. In addition to the negative effects just discussed, positive side effects include becoming stronger and faster, while neutral onlookers consider both the negative and positive aspects.