ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to address the ethical issues as the direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing market is rapidly expanding in numerous health- and medicine-related areas. The potential for inappropriate discrimination and exclusion is a major concern in the era of DTC genetic testing for sport performance. The intense focus on genetic predictors of athletic performance has led to the identification of several genetic markers and polygenic profiles associated with athletic performance; however, the field is rife with underpowered studies and unreplicated findings. Although sport and exercise genetics researchers generally agree that the evidence is insufficient for using genetic tests for talent identification, several companies sell the promise of using this technology to determine potential for athletic success and for designing individualized exercise training programs. Considerable benefit of genetic testing of young athletes is the identification of individuals who are at increased risk of injury, since time lost to injury can derail the trajectory of athletic development.
