This paper analyses a case of genetic discrimination of a Brazilian volleyball athlete. A routine exam identified the sickle cell trait in her blood. The sickle cell trait is one of the most prevalent genetic information in Brazilian population, but it not considered a genetic disease. The advancement of clinical genetic promotes a popularization of genetic tests in different health care initiatives. The aims of this paper are: 1) to criticize the argument supporting the test for sickle cell trait as a health care initiative; 2) to demonstrate how the popularization of genetic information demands genetic counseling and ethical protections. The analysis demonstrates how the athlete exclusion from the official volleyball team is not supported by medicine and is a case of genetic discrimination.
Genetic discrimination; sickle cell trait; sickle cell disease; ethics; sports