An Olympic Games For Enhanced Athletes? 245
ananyo writes "With the Olympics due to kick off on 27 July in London, Nature has taken a look at how far science would be able to push human athletic abilities if all restrictions on doping were lifted. The article mentions anabolic steroids (up to 38% increase in strength), IGF-1 (4% increase in sprinting capacity), EPO/blood doping (34% increase in stamina), gene doping and various drugs and supplements, as well as more 'extreme' measures such as surgery and prosthesis. Hugh Herr, a biomechanical engineer at MIT, says performance-enhancing technologies will one day demand an Olympics all their own. But is that time already upon us?"
Prior Art (Score:4, Informative)
Re:What for? (Score:5, Informative)
As an addendum, imagine the benefits if more effort was put into developing a safe and effective mystatin inhibitor/blocker.
Not only would it be useful for professional athletes and those suffering from muscular dystrophy, if it was safe it could also be used by "regular people". It probably wouldn't be a "wonder drug" to make everyone fit, not by a long shot, but it would help the average guy who can't quite find time to work out as often as he wants put on more muscle mass, it could help someone who's overweight store more energy as muscle rather than fat.
Obviously I'm speculating but there are definitely interesting applications once you look beyond "all changes to the human body that enhance performance are evil".
Re:What for? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Prior Art (Score:4, Informative)
We wont have to hear about who did or didn't fail their drug tests anymore.
It would not work like that. You would still have people trying to win the "enhancement restricted" events with enhancements because it might be easier for them that way than competing against or the other drugged/modded competitors in the "anything goes" variants.