Thursday, March 26, 2009
Adding genetics and genomics as a tool to existing ways of tracing athletes who are at risk for fatal injuries of e.g. their heart or brain, raises ethical questions. Fewer athletes will risk fatal injuries, but more could be excluded from practicing their passion and profession.
In the complex relationship between sponsors, clubs and coaches, it is not self-evident whether genetic screening will increase athletes’ autonomy or diminish it. This issue should be put prominently on the sports agenda, according to the participants of a workshop organised by Centre for Society and Genomics on February 12 - 14 in Maastricht. Among them was Ms Erica Terpstra, chair of NOC*NSF, also a member of the NGI Valorisation Board.