Genetic Testing in Sport: Considerations for Young Athletes

Abstract

This article uses the experiences of professional footballer Abdelhak “Appie” Nouri, who suffered a cardiac arrhythmia at the age of 20 years old during a pre-season friendly in 2017, as the stepping off point for examining the use and regulation of genetic testing in sport and the human rights implications of genetic testing child athletes for the purposes of talent identification and performance enhancement. The authors identify recent trends in the use of genetic testing in sport, outline the legal and policy framework that regulates genetic testing in Australia, and consider human rights issues that arise in relation to a child’s decision to undertake or withhold consent for testing.