Fifty years ago, at Oxford University, Roger Bannister became the first human being to run a mile in less than four minutes. Today the record stands at three minutes, forty-three seconds. In the not-so-distant future, with the aid of gene therapy, we may see someone run a three and a half minute mile. Unfortunately, athletes who choose not to use performance-enhancing therapies will be (and are) at a serious disadvantage. In track and field, many men’s world records and most of the women’s records are viewed with skepticism. Call me a Luddite, but I miss the days when incredible athletic performances could safely be assumed to be the product of hard work and God-given talent.

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