Many experts believe that the future of doping could lie in the application of genetic engineering methods. This prognosis is based on the one hand on the expectation that gene doping could open up a whole new dimension of performance enhancement in sports. This expectation is supported both by animal experiments which, for example, have succeeded in producing transgenic mice with significantly increased muscle mass, and by observations on the performance-enhancing effects of naturally occurring rare gene variants in humans and animals. On the other hand, genetic engineering methods are attributed a particular potential for abuse because their application could be difficult to prove. The severe and sometimes fatal side effects of early experimental gene therapies suggest that gene doping might not only be particularly attractive, but also particularly dangerous for athletes with fraudulent intentions. This special juxtaposition of opportunities and risks prompted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to include gene doping in the list of prohibited procedures as early as 2003, although there has not yet been a confirmed case of gene doping in competitive sports. Due to differentiation problems, the definition of gene doping has been modified several times. Since 2013, WADA defines gene doping as i) the transfer of nucleic acid polymers or nucleic acid analogues or ii) the use of normal or genetically modified cells.

The website of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) includes a brochure on gene doping, originally published by the Swiss Federal Office of Sport (FOSPO) and Swiss Olympic, which provides information on its particular potential and risks. Online Version (German)