Neurostimulation, doping, and the spirit of sport

Abstract

There is increasing interest in using neuro-stimulation devices to achieve an ergogenic effect in elite athletes. Although the World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) does not currently prohibit neuro-stimulation techniques, a number of researchers have called on WADA to consider its position on this issue. Focusing on trans-cranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a case study of an imminent so-called ‘neuro-doping’ intervention, we argue that the emerging evidence suggests that tDCS may meet WADA’s own criteria (pertaining to safety, performance-enhancing effect, and incompatibility with the ‘spirit of sport’) for a method’s inclusion on its list of prohibited substances and methods. We begin by surveying WADA’s general approach to doping, and highlight important limitations to the current evidence base regarding the performance-enhancing effect of pharmacological doping substances. We then review the current evidence base for the safety and efficacy of tDCS, and argue that despite significant shortcomings, there may be sufficient evidence for WADA to consider prohibiting tDCS, in light of the comparable flaws in the evidence base for pharmacological doping substances. In the second half of the paper, we argue that the question of whether WADA ought to ban tDCS turns significantly on the question of whether it is compatible with the ‘spirit of sport’ criterion. We critique some of the previously published positions on this, and advocate our own sport-specific and application-specific approach. Despite these arguments, we finally conclude by suggesting that tDCS ought to be monitored rather than prohibited due to compelling non-ideal considerations.

Values and clean sport

“…The WADA Code 2015 (p. 30) states "A substance or method shall be considered for inclusion on the Prohibited List if WADA determines that the substance or method meets any two of the following three criteria" ... where the third criterion is ... "use of the substance or method violates the spirit of sport". Despite the prominence of the spirit of sport values in anti-doping policy, the importance of these values to athletes and their relationships to clean (drug-free) sport have yet to be established (cf., Mazanov & Huybers, 2016;Mazanov et al, 2019;Pugh & Pugh, 2020). Mazanov and colleagues (Mazanov & Huybers, 2016;Mazanov, et al, 2019) have taken some preliminary steps towards establishing how athletes and non-athletes understand the relative importance of spirit of sport values to sport in general and the spirit of sport construct.…”

The effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on cycling ergometry and recovery in healthy young individuals

“…Autonomic nervous system regulation after exercise, by accelerating the parasympathetic activity return, can increase recovery in athletes and can be practically done with noninvasive VNS. There is a very limited evidence in the literature examining the effect of VNS on recovery and performance in sports (Coote, 2010 ; Bucheit et al., 2007 ; Pugh & Pugh, 2021 ). In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential benefits and effects of auricular VNS on sportive activity, in healthy young people through cycling exercise.…”

The Ethical Views of Turkish Researchers and the Ethics Committees on Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation

“…The ndings suggest that these results are related to "concern about abuse" [21,23] and the lack of studies directly related to the topic. This attitude seems to be quite like the researchers' attitudes found both in Riggal et al survey research with tDCS researchers, and in Kostick-Quenetet al survey research regarding the enhancement use of NIBS with DBS researchers [3,24].…”