----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
> Suppose I was born without a leg and a leg replacement device was provided
that enabled me to run 10km in under 26mins (I can dream) - would that be
ok? At some point we may face this situation in the future. The question is
where do you draw the line?
Good question.
The answer is, I don't know. It isn't a black-and-white issue. Maybe in 50
years cyberprosthetics and gene therapy will have advanced to the point that
we will need a new rethink of what "fair competition" means.
But it's a question that involves not only my personal opinion (which is:
yeah, it's OK), but also the opinions of other athletes, spectators,
sponsors, and the sport's governing bodies.
Maybe in 50 years every self-respecting athlete will have his legs replaced
with cyberprosthetics, and spectators will pay to see 6.0 second 100m races.
Then again, maybe it will be the other way round, and athletes with too many
fast-twitch fibers will be required to undergo gene therapy to slow them
down to the IAAF norm of 50% fast-twitch, 50% slow-twitch.
As long as t&f remains fun, I don't really mind either way.
Cheers, Elliott
