Sport genetics could make Superman fantasy a reality

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050428/ts_af...HNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Genetic engineering and steroid enhancement could turn Superman-like fantasy figures into reality, American football officials and players warned in a Congressional hearing

The first signs of a massive mighty race might already be appearing in 21st Century American sports, where teams do not face World Anti-Doping Agency standards even though lawmakers are pondering imposing such measures.

Concerns about the future of doping were on the minds of several who testified here Wednesday at a House Government Reform committee hearing about steroids in the National Football League.

The notion of a super-fast, super-strong man might even be playing out in the NFL, where linemen are more massive and faster than two decades ago, even though NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said his sport has no steroid problem.

"The quickening pace of new developments in medicine and science, including gene engineering in ways we have not even begun to see, heightens the challenges we all face," Tagliabue said.

"They are body altering, and eventually they will be gene altering."

Gene manipulation could replace bionics as the technology which will create a Darth Vader or Steve Austin, better known as TV's "Six Million-Dollar Man" back when that sum was amazing instead of so-so in the US sports world.

"As scientists come to truly understand, and therefore be able to alter, the genetic structure of human beings, the 'Six Million-Dollar Man' will no longer be a television fantasy but will instead become a near-term reality," Tagliabue said.

"When that happens, the issues that our society is discussing today... will be as irrelevant as the blacksmith in the automobile age. These genetic alterations are likely to be undetectable and far more effective at enhancing performance."

When asked about the growing size of NFL players in the past 20 years, Tagliabue said greater specialization has made position players massive or smaller depending upon needs.

But Tagliabue also noted how other sports have found giants from around the world, notably 7-foot-6 Chinese center Yao Ming of the National Basketball Association's Houston Rockets.

"We have Yao Ming playing in the NBA," Tagliabue said. "No one saw Chinese players of that size playing in the NBA 20 years ago."

Yao is far from alone in showing size matters. Romanian Georghe Muresan and Africa's Manute Bol have also been NBA giants taking tallness records to new heights with no indication that any of them have taken any improper substance.

Linn Goldberg, a US Anti-Doping Agency physician, has watched teen hero images from G.I. Joe to Wonder Woman take on pumped-up proportions.

"Children's items and images have had a 'steroid' makeover reflecting unrealistic muscular body types," he said.

Muscle men and super women through steroids were discussed a day after a US university study showed steroids are popular with pre-teen US girls seeking a more statuesque womanly form at a younger age.

"Seven percent of middle-school-aged girls are now using steroids to give their bodies tone, to make them look better," committee chairman Tom Davis said. "This is dangerous."

Steve Courson, a 1970s NFL player who said steroids were commonplace in his pre-testing era, said gene manipulation could be a tougher test than steroids.

"Now we face the most de-humanizing challenge yet, genetic engineering," Courson said. "This technology could well represent sports Armegeddon.

"I strongly urge all sporting federations and the NFL to be vigilant of the potential dangers. I would strongly suggest the adoption of a national school steroid policy combined with preventative legislation prohibiting non-medical genetic engineering and gene doping.

Only five NFL players weighed more than 300 pounds in 1985 while 327 NFL players were above that weight in 2003.

"When you look at the size of players today, diet and training haven't changed. That would lead me to believe it's out there," Courson said. "One thing the NFL may want to consider is a weight limit, especially with genetic engineering around the corner."

With more than 500,000 US teens saying they have taken steroids, there was US lawmaker skepticism about massive NFL linemen not testing positive.

"It reflects the specialization in our game," Tagliabue said. "We don't believe they are getting there using steroids. These large players tend to be the antithesis of the lean athlete.

"We're not going to say because we have larger athletes they are taking steroids. I think it's nonsense."

i heard it all b4

Aslong as its tested a lot and safe.. I'll use it to become a bit stronger

i'll prefer to be a cyborg, no thats cool
no one will get in ur way if they mess wiv u

Yes it will most likely end up as a reality with our quest to always be better, smarter, stronger, faster etc...... than everyone else, but I doubt we will be able to fly by ourselves!

your body is just like a car,the faster you go the quicker the engine dies!