ABSTRACT

The ethical issues surrounding the use of performance-enhancing drugs and techniques are some of the most complex within the ethics of sport. Acknowledging this fact, the author regards the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport as problematic and agrees with the conclusion that major sport organizations, such as the International Olympic Committee and Major League Baseball, have strong reasons to prohibit such use. The future use of genetic techniques for purposes of enhancement in sport raises ethical issues perhaps even more complex than those relating to performance enhancement in sport today. There are many sport libertarians and others who will welcome the arguably revolutionary changes in sport brought about by technology and see no threat to athletics in this kind of enhancement. There are important arguments in favor of permitting genetic enhancement of athletes, so long as they are not forced on anyone and the techniques themselves are safe.