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Drugs in sport: can science stop the cheats?
- Annual doping detection rates are projected to remain low, estimated between 1% and 2%, despite true prevalence potentially reaching 30% to 40%.
- Current testing methodologies and the athlete biological passport system are anticipated to fail in detecting the majority of offenders due to reliance on easily manipulated, limited biomarkers.
- New genetic sequencing research aims to identify blood doping by analyzing every gene expression change, with the capability to detect usage weeks or months post-consumption and retrospectively identify the method and timing.
- Full implementation of the proposed genetic signature analysis is projected to be labor-intensive and computationally demanding, requiring a supercomputer.
- The final stage of this research is estimated to cost £4 million, necessitating increased funding for WADA to address current capacity gaps.
- WADA is expected to remain structurally weak with no power or capacity to enforce rules, a situation that requires significant financial resources despite an uncertain source of funds.