TY - JOUR
T1 - The frequency of, and attitudes towards, genetic testing amongst athletes and support staff
AU - Pickering, C.
AU - Kiely, J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2021/2
Y1 - 2021/2
N2 - Recently, knowledge of the genetic influence on the attainment of elite athlete status, along with aspects such as training adaptations and injury risk, has grown. At present, there are various direct-to-consumer genetic tests targeted at athletes. Here, we aimed to determine to prevalence of, and attitudes towards, genetic testing in a group of athletes, coaches, and support staff. 243 participants (110 athletes and 133 support staff) took part in an internet-based survey. 51 % of athletes had competed internationally, and 54 % of support staff reported that their main contact time was with international athletes. The frequency of genetic testing was relatively low, with 10 % of athletes and 11 % of support staff stating they had utilised such a test. Overall, the majority of athletes and support staff felt that genetics played a role in the attainment of sporting success and training adaptation. The main barriers to undertaking genetic testing were a lack of awareness, high cost, and a lack of scientific evidence. The majority (73 % of athletes and 64 % of support staff) of participants utilising genetic tests found the information useful.
AB - Recently, knowledge of the genetic influence on the attainment of elite athlete status, along with aspects such as training adaptations and injury risk, has grown. At present, there are various direct-to-consumer genetic tests targeted at athletes. Here, we aimed to determine to prevalence of, and attitudes towards, genetic testing in a group of athletes, coaches, and support staff. 243 participants (110 athletes and 133 support staff) took part in an internet-based survey. 51 % of athletes had competed internationally, and 54 % of support staff reported that their main contact time was with international athletes. The frequency of genetic testing was relatively low, with 10 % of athletes and 11 % of support staff stating they had utilised such a test. Overall, the majority of athletes and support staff felt that genetics played a role in the attainment of sporting success and training adaptation. The main barriers to undertaking genetic testing were a lack of awareness, high cost, and a lack of scientific evidence. The majority (73 % of athletes and 64 % of support staff) of participants utilising genetic tests found the information useful.
KW - Direct-to-consumer
KW - Elite athlete
KW - Genetics
KW - Talent identification
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85097093401&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.peh.2020.100184
DO - 10.1016/j.peh.2020.100184
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85097093401
SN - 2211-2669
VL - 8
JO - Performance Enhancement and Health
JF - Performance Enhancement and Health
IS - 4
M1 - 100184
ER -