Bioethical aspects of human genome research in sports: a brief overview

Human genome research in sports brings about complex ethical questions related to genetic manipulation for enhancement of performance among athletes. Genes enhancing raises concerns about fairness, equality, and respect for human dignity. This review explores the ethical aspects of human genome research in sports and its potential effect on the integrity of sports. Methodologically, this article provides a systematic analysis of scientific publications and expert insights to explore the ethical challenges of athletic genetics. This study extensively examined the current literature on genetics and sports performance, as well as ethical contradictions in modern science and sports. The literature was searched using Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases. Keywords included “genetics”, “sports performance”, “ethics”, “bioethics”, “genetic testing”, “human rights”, “sports”. The searching strategy was formulated without time constraints. Thus, both recent and fundamental works in this direction could be included. In conclusion, it is stated in this review that genetic technologies in sports should be developed and applied in accordance with ethical considerations. It is crucial because this is how fundamental principles of fairness, equality, and respect for human dignity can be supported. The review stresses the importance of an open dialogue about the potential influence of genetic advancements on athletic performance, future generations, and integrity of sports.