Today, in conjunction with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), The International Olympic Committee announced that they would be adding synthetic stem cells to the list of banned substances. A popular treatment for sports related injuries devised by Reparre Biologic, the decision effectively sidelines a number of athletes who had planned on competing in Manila in July, including Lahaina diving sensation Charlie Kiha. Since these types of cells can show up in tests for up to 6 years, the ruling has long lasting implications to anyone who has undergone such treatments in the past.
The push to regulate the technology is not new. Many sporting organizations already have rules regarding the number of treatments a competitor can receive during a game or match, and restrictions on what types of injuries can be treated with Reparre’s synthetic stem cells and tailored DNA medicine. However, the Olympic Committee’s decision to completely ban the treatment represents the strictest control of synthetic stem cells by any organization, and is being called unfair by many impacted.
“I already sent tickets to my aunties, and my tutu. A few of them have never been off island before. Its their disappointment that hurts the most,” says Kiha. A gold medal winner in diving at last year’s Pan American games, Kiha was an early medal favorite this year, but it appears an old treatment for a neck injury will now sideline the Olympic hopeful. “I’ve been pretty lucky in my career, and haven’t had any major injuries until last year. I hurt my neck cliff diving while I was home, and didn’t know if I’d be able to compete this year, until I had the stem cell treatment. It was amazing! In less than 24 hours I had full range of motion and the pain relief was immediate, but I guess it was too good to be true. I can understand wanting to level the playing field, but I don’t understand flagging people who had the treatment before it was banned. They’re keeping people like me, who’ve done nothing wrong, out of Olympic competition for as long as 6 years. It doesn’t seem right.”
Shawn Hastings, President of Reparre Biologic, agrees with the diver’s assessment and says he was, “blindsided by the committee’s ruling.” Hastings says there is no evidence that Reparre’s medical technology provides athletes a performance edge.
“Our synthetic cells don’t physically work any differently than any other stem cell therapy. Our personalized DNA medicine is visually indistinguishable from traditional treatments. In fact, the only way to tell the two apart is through a specialized chemical test. The difference is in the time it takes for our treatments to work, nothing else. Our synthetic stem cells, calibrated with a sample of a patient’s DNA, have a much higher rate of mitosis than traditional stem cells. Minor injuries can be fixed almost immediately, and recovery from major trauma can be days instead of weeks. There’s no doubt that our medicine has saved the careers of numerous athletes, but it has not created them. Synthetic stem cells have been around for over 30 years, and records have not been broken at an exponentially higher rate during that time. Again, our technology provides a faster and more comfortable recovery from injuries, that’s it. There is no evidence to suggest it creates bigger, stronger, or faster athletes. We are very disappointed in today’s ruling.”
Despite Mr. Hastings assurances, the committee says that the synthetic Reparre stem cells can lead to higher durability, flexibility, and endurance in competitors, and can be detected in the system for years after a treatment. They stand by their classification, and say they expect other organizations to take a similar stance in the near future. Bob Abramo, President of Medimeat, a medical supply company that specializes in “free-range, 100% organic valves, cells, and tissues,” applauds the decision.
“At Medimeat we believe that if you wouldn’t eat it, you shouldn’t have it inside you. Who knows what long term damage Reparre’s fake stem cells will do. In one breath they say their cells are perfectly safe and natural, and in the next they show them dividing like a super-charged cancer. How can that not have an effect on performance? Look, athletic competition should be about exploring the limits of flesh and blood, not chemicals and synthetic cells. Think about it, is that block of imitation krab meat better than a deliciously grilled claw? Has anyone tasted a perfectly rendered duck breast, with slightly crispy skin, and thought I’d rather have a glob of tofu-duck? Of course not! If you wouldn’t accept cheap imitation for dinner, why would you accept it in your medicine? Our stem cells are carefully and lovingly harvested from 100% natural sources. We take our time, like you would with a good stew, to provide our customers with the finest medical tissues available. If you want some questionable product, at microwave speed, that’s the other guys who just got banned from the Olympics.”
