Rutenfranz J
Pediatrician. 1986;13(1):14-7.
In a way, children involved in elite sports can be considered participants in an uncontrolled mass experiment with human beings. Sports have many benefits for children, especially when this activity is compared with the sedentary life styles of too many children all over the world. However, training in such sports is progressively becoming more prevalent in an earlier age in childhood, and potential risks of musculoskeletal disorders or diseases, social isolation to a restricted group with similar interests, and the psychologic stress of repetitive and monotonous sports activities for several hours each day, are concerning physicians. Added to these concerns are the dangers associated with hormonal and dietary manipulations practiced by athletes in elite sports. Ethics committees to control training procedures of gifted children and to propose higher age limits for participants, especially in international sports events, seem to be needed. Long-term effects of elite sports activities beginning in early childhood should be studied using appropriate epidemiologic methods. The basic ethical consideration is not to harm or alienate children by using them as objects for sports organizations, spectators or nationalists.
从某种程度上讲，参与精英运动的儿童可被视为参与了一场针对人类的无控制大规模实验。运动对儿童有诸多益处，尤其是当将这种活动与全球众多儿童久坐不动的生活方式相比较时。然而，此类运动的训练在儿童时期越来越早地变得愈发普遍，肌肉骨骼疾病的潜在风险、与兴趣相似的有限群体的社交隔离，以及每天数小时重复性和单调的体育活动带来的心理压力，都令医生们担忧。除了这些担忧之外，精英运动中的运动员进行激素和饮食操控还存在危险。似乎需要设立伦理委员会来管控有天赋儿童的训练程序，并为参与者提出更高的年龄限制，尤其是在国际体育赛事中。应采用适当的流行病学方法研究儿童早期开始的精英体育活动的长期影响。基本的伦理考量是，不要将儿童作为体育组织、观众或民族主义者的工具而伤害他们或使其疏远。
