International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge has called for new regulations against changing genes to increase athletic performance, so-called gene doping.
Rogge said progress in the field of genetics now made it possible for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which held a conference in Stockholm on gene therapy and doping with around 50 scientists and sports officials, to start formulating rules.
"I am getting more and more anxious that this [gene doping] may be misused by athletes and coaches," he told reporters on Monday.
"I think there is now enough scientific data to begin drafting rules."
Methods to detect the use of genetic modification to enhance athletic abilities are still in the early stages.
But Theodore Friedmann, a leading gene researcher and head of WADA's gene doping panel, said he is confident technology would become available to detect gene-doped athletes.
DANGEROUS ROAD
"My advice to them is, don't be so sure [of avoiding detection]. This is a very dangerous road to proceed on and we will be ready to halt the traffic," Friedmann said.
The conference reached conclusions in several areas, including that gene therapy for the treatment of disease is a proven area of human medicine but still at a very early stage.
It said there should be strict rules and standards for scientists working on gene transfer in humans. Those that do not match up to such standards should be considered as indulging in medical malpractice and professional misconduct.
The conference said sports associations should talk more with medical bodies to encourage understanding of gene transfer and the dangers of misuse to enhance athletic ability.
Friedmann said it is impossible to say when methods would be ready to detect gene doping, which WADA believes is not happening yet, though no one can be sure.
"It will disappoint us but not shock us if somebody has already used genetic enhancement," Friedmann said.
