Julian Savulescu
Abstract
Technological doping, like using gears in cycling, aerohelmets, or computers, shows us that doping can assist the human striving to be better. It can express and bring out talent. Our rules to limit enhancement needs to be based on the balance of reasons.
Sport, and life, ought to preserve 4 values:
• safety;
• preservation of:
o a test of human contribution or human element (spirit of sport),
o costly commitment – effort, time, mixing one’s labour with the activity (work),
o the mind and authentic persona of the athlete: strategy, dispositions, personality.
Technological doping shows that we need to think carefully about the values which really matter when we choose to interfere in autonomy and liberty, and restrict
the development of human performance.