The Ethics of Performance-Enhancing Technology in Sport
... These goals may include the prevention of injuries or other safety issues, but most often they relate to performanceenhancing measures achieved through specific training methods, equipment, suits, machinery or biochemical substances. 3 However, such a definition is not universal or applicable in all historical contexts. It does not include, for example, the training of the mind, from which sport psychology developed in the late twentieth century. ...
This article is a study of technological change in crosscountry (XC) skiing in Sweden from the late nineteenth century to the 1930s. While technological development in sport is usually seen as a linear and predetermined process, it is instead treated in this context as an arena where wills and intentions-grouped under the concepts of nostalgia and intensification-are negotiated. Nostalgia, in this sense, reflects a scepticism of innovation and change based on contemporary civilizational and rural-romantic concerns, whereas intensification represents the total mobilization of resources to improve sporting performance. The article shows that in its beginnings at the end of the nineteenth century, XC skiing expressed a romantic vision of a distinctive Swedish national landscape where skis were to be made using traditional and old-fashioned craftsmanship. In the early twentieth century, however, XC skiing changed and became progressive. The traditional Swedish skiing landscape was abandoned and the sport adapted to international conditions to enable Swedish athletes to compete successfully abroad. In other words, skiing was intensified because of the mobilization of resources by the Swedish Ski Association in close cooperation with the Swedish ski industry, which was then in an expansion phase.
... Other factors, such as growing up in a sports-friendly or non-sporting environment or the chance of an unexpected wind carrying a javelin further during competition, involve elements of luck. Lastly, certain aspects of athletic performance are based on the athletes' hard work and efforts to develop their talents [83]. ...
Human genome research in sports raises complex ethical considerations regarding the intersection of genetics and athletic performance. Pursuing genetic enhancements must uphold fairness, equality, and respect for human dignity. This narrative review explores the ethical dimensions of human genome research in sports, its potential implications on athletes, and the integrity of sports. As a narrative review, this study synthesizes the existing literature and expert insights to examine the ethical aspects of human genome research in sports. This study extensively examined the current literature on genetics, sports performance, ethical concerns, human rights, and legal regulations within the European context. The literature was searched using the SPORTDiscus, Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases. Exploring human genome research in sports reveals significant ethical implications, including potential genetic discrimination, impacts on human rights, and creating a genetic underclass of athletes. There are also definite benefits surrounding genetic testing. In conclusion, this review contends that integrating ethical considerations into developing and applying genetic technologies in sports is crucial to upholding fundamental principles of fairness, equality, and respect for human dignity. It stresses the importance of open and inclusive dialogue about the potential consequences of genetic advancements on athletic performance, future generations, and the integrity of sports.
... Sports and technology have been intertwined for hundreds of years, but the term sportstech reached its current prominence only in the past few years. Previously, technology in sports had a mostly constitutive function; for many sports (e.g., skiing, cycling, ice skating 9 ), technology is a necessary condition to exist at all (Loland, 2009). As health and safety concerns gained increasing attention, technology played a significant role in protecting athletes against harm and injuries (Waddington & Smith, 2000). ...
In this chapter, the authors provide a snapshot of the opportunities, challenges, and development of the sportstech industry and propose a sportstech taxonomy comprised of the definition of sportstech and the SportsTech Matrix. Their goal is to provide a common understanding and a useful tool for researchers and practitioners alike. In so doing, they define sportstech based on established understanding of sports and technology, introduce the SportsTech Matrix, and exemplify how to apply it with use cases for a variety of stakeholders. The SportsTech Matrix provides an all-encompassing structure for the field of sportstech along two angles: The user and tech. Together, the two angles capture how different types of technologies provide solutions to different user groups.
... A series of constitutive rules outline how a sport should be conducted (Silva, 1981), and when such rules are intentionally broken, this is deemed as an act of cheating. However, dishonest behavior, use of controversial technology (Dyer, 2015), and illegal performance enhancement (Loland, 2009) are not new concepts in traditional sports. More recently though, such controversy or sporting fraud has now also been leveled against virtual cycling racing specifically (Dyer, 2020;McIlroy et al., 2021;Richardson et al., 2022). ...
This study aimed to investigate the viewpoints and attitudes about virtual e-cycling apps with respect to the manipulation of an avatar’s stated body weight. An adaptation of the Performance Enhancement Attitude Scale delivered in the form of an online questionnaire was created to assess the act of intentional avatar weight manipulation in e-cycling apps. The level of agreement to 12 items was measured on a 5-point Likert scale, and 638 responses were received. Content analysis was performed on the responses to two open-ended questions. The respondent’s disagreed with nine of the 12 Performance Enhancement Attitude Scale statements suggesting that they saw no value to the practice of intentional avatar weight manipulation. The qualitative analysis revealed that many respondents appeared to accept that e-doping was common practice, and that prevention measures and punishment were ineffective. The results of the Performance Enhancement Attitude Scale questionnaire and content analysis by the majority of the respondents support that the act of avatar weight manipulation in virtual cycling esport sees similar results, feedback, and undesirability to other forms of sporting fraud such as the use of performance-enhancing drugs. It is, therefore, proposed that the act of avatar weight manipulation should be treated as an illicit, deceptive, or wholly negative practice.
... But it will be good use that determines the result: the use of the e-bike for small transfers can allow a new opportunity for active life 53 In technologically developed societies, physical activity is reduced by the availability of means of transport, household appliances, ready-to-eat food products and many other services that require low physical effort for users. Paradoxically, in this context, since it is unlikely that one can renounce the available services, the use of further technological strategies in order to reach the recommended level of physical exercise for health protection may be profitable 55 The possibility that the practitioner is reduced to a 'mechanical engine' that works at an operating regime established by an algorithm does not differ from that which could derive from the advice and methods of instructors and doctors when they do not put growth at the center of their efforts of the athlete as a person, as Loland argues in his narrow theory 51 . The technology used in such a way as to circumvent one's inability and § In Italy there have been repeated infringements aimed at illegally transforming bicycles into electric vehicles, which was followed by the intervention of the legislator who introduced specific sanctions to protect the safety of road traffic. ...
The current evolution of technology that has already made the internet possible could soon make fully usable a persistent multidimensional universe capable of providing its users with further ways to meet, play, socialize and work. It is legitimate to question the possible implications for the future of sport. As a social phenomenon, sport will remain connected to the transformation that is taking place and there will reasonably be new ways both for athletes and for fans. The openness to innovation that is characteristic of sport and Olympism gives impetus to the debate on how the internal good of sport must be preserved and how the objectives of the Olympic Charter must be achieved. An at least partial transfer of sport is expected from a context of sociality and practice that provides for a traditional physical contact and therefore in the presence, to that of a universe characterized using digital artefacts which should, according to a desirable orientation, amplify the connections between individuals even in virtual reality. On the other hand, this transformation could deviate into an alienating posthuman experience, with damaging effects on the weakest individuals, because they are in the development phase of their identity, in training or because they are socially disadvantaged. This article will try to provide some food for thought in the debate that is opening and regarding the appropriateness of this further digital revolution which, through a process that seems unstoppable, is already affecting the whole of society.
Modern technologies are well-established in professional soccer, including systems such as video cameras, wearables (e.g. GPS-Trackers), augmented and virtual reality applications, and AI-driven software systems. These technologies primarily serve to enhance player performance and generate advantages for clubs, as well as other stakeholders such as coaches, fans, betting agencies and data-tracking companies. However, the perspective of the players is often neglected, particularly with regard to data privacy and data ethics. This issue is aptly described by the term “transparent/glass player”. For this reason, this thesis examines how technology-driven data collection and analysis affect athletes in terms of stress, performance and motivation.
Based on a comprehensive literature review that identified 57 relevant studies, a qualitative content analysis, according to Mayring, was conducted. The analysis of 19 soccer platforms was subsequently conducted using eight different keyword pairs. This resulted in identifying 176 relevant articles and a total of 343 codings across eight different categories, which describe the immediate player perspective. The results of the empirical research show that the use of technology positively affects player performance in about 92% of the cases studied. However, 47% of the codings related
to emotions report that players experience negative feelings such as anger and frustration in connection with the use of technology. The analysis of the category “motivation” revealed that 75% of the codings (53 out of 71) indicate a low level of autonomy among players. Voluntary usage, on the other hand, strengthens intrinsic motivation, which is primarily driven by aspects such as the desire for self-improvement and curiosity. Regarding the category “stress,” no conclusive results could be drawn due to the small number of codings, but initial indications point to stressors such as surveillance, control and performance pressure. An anonymous player survey could provide valuable insights on this matter. Concerning the category “data protection”, eight cases of data protection violations were identified, including three codings for the unauthorized publication of player’s contract data (salary
details). From a data protection perspective, player data in the EU is considered personal data, for which strict regulations apply, particularly for the processing of biometric and health data. From the 67 codings on “data ethics”, six central guidelines were derived, including the protection of privacy and athletes’ rights, data minimization, protection against discrimination, responsibility and liability, access control and transparency. These guidelines align with the ethical principles for processing player data formulated by the player’s union “FIFPRO” in 2022.
The results of this thesis highlight that while technological advancements in professional soccer offer the potential for performance enhancement, the ethical challenges and protection of athlete’s rights must be given more attention.
This collection of essays examines the philosophical and cultural aspects of technology. The issues range widely - from quantum technology to problems of technology and culture in a developing country and contributors approach the issues from a variety of perspectives. The volume includes case-studies, and also more theoretical pieces which consider the fundamental question of whether technology should be perceived as a force for liberation or enslavement. The volume aims to stimulate debate about the relation between technology and philosophy and society in general, and to open a field of enquiry that has been relatively neglected. Written in an accessible style, the contributions are intended equally for philosophers exploring the novel problems arising in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, but also for technologists interested in the philosophical implications of their work.
Addressing both collegiate and professional sports, the updated edition of Fair Play: The Ethics of Sport explores the ethical presuppositions of competitive athletics and their connection both to ethical theory and to concrete moral dilemmas that arise in actual athletic competition. This fourth edition has been updated with new examples, including a discussion of Spygate by the New England Patriots and recent discoveries on the use of performance enhancing drugs by top athletes. Two additional authors, Cesar R. Torres and Peter F. Hager, bring to this edition a discussion of the moral issues involved in youth sports and the ethics of being a fan, as well as a fresh perspective on the theories of broad internalism and the quest for excellence. Furthermore, major criticisms of broad internalism by philosophers William J. Morgan and Scott Kretchmar add a new dimension to the discussion on the moral foundations of winning.
The principle conclusions set by Henry I. Miller and Gregory Conko on the 'Agricultural Biotechnology' in support of ag biotech, are presented. The US public accepts the products of agricultural biotechnology because they have confidence in the institutions that approved them. Miller and Conko encourage scientists, academics, and policymakers to help correct the biases raising awareness of the potential benefits that molecular biotechnology promises. They also attribute ag biotech's diasppointing performance to 'resistance from the public and activists', because the authors accept the media's extrapolation from activist resistance to public resistance.
Communist sport policy in Europe, that dominated large parts of it during the Cold War, is dead. The collapse of Soviet-style communism gives an opportunity to look back on the characteristics of communist sports. Especially its achievements should not be underestimated, as it promoted social mobility, equal rights for women and helped integrating national minorities as well as modernising societies.
Fair Play in Sport presents a critical re-working of the classic ideal of fair play and explores its practical consequences for competitive sport. By linking general moral principles and practical cases, the book develops a contemporary theory of fair play.
The book examines many of the key issues in the ethics of sport, including:
* fairness and justice in sport
* moral and immoral interpretation of 'athletic performance'
* what makes a 'good competition'
* the key values of competitive sport.
The notion of fair play is integral to sport as we know and experience it, and is commonly seen as a necessary ethos if competitive sport is to survive and flourish. Fair Play in Sport provides an invaluable guide to the subject for all those with an interest in ethics and the philosophy of sport.
