The Sport Integrity Forum ASIA, brought science and governance into the same conversation, as H.E. Dr. Maryam Matar, Founder & Chairperson of the UAE Genetic Diseases Association delivered a timely address on how advances in genetics and data science intersect with Sport Integrity. Her intervention coincided with the launch of SIGA ASIA, underscoring the Forum’s purpose: translating integrity from principle into practice across a rapidly evolving sport ecosystem.
Drawing on her background in genetics and medicine, Dr. Matar introduced a powerful analogy: epigenetics — the way environment and behavior influence which genes are expressed — offers a useful lens for understanding integrity in sport. Rules, culture, and leadership do not change the “DNA” of sport itself, but they determine what gets expressed.
“Integrity in sport is like epigenetic regulation. It doesn’t change the DNA, but it decides which parts get expressed. In other words, integrity is the switch that turns talent into legacy.”
This framing clearly links athlete welfare, fair competition, and governance. Training load, sleep, nutrition, and psychological safety shape performance at the cellular level; in parallel, clear standards, transparent processes, and ethical oversight shape performance at the institutional level. When the “switch” is set to integrity, athletes and organizations thrive credibly and sustainably.
The Forum also addressed the accelerating use of genetic testing, AI-enabled scouting, and biometric analytics. Dr. Matar welcomed innovation while warning against misuse: without robust governance, these tools can drift from support to exclusion — such as benching athletes based on probabilistic genomic profiles. The message was practical and precise: data must serve athletes, not define or limit them.
Dr. Matar situated women’s leadership within an evidence-based integrity agenda. Historic milestones—from participation barriers to today’s emphasis on mental health and safe environments — show that integrity under pressure is not an abstract ideal but a lived practice. Research linking ethical cultures to healthier long-term performance complements the governance case: integrity is not a “soft” value; it is a competitive advantage.
“Women have always had to fight for fair play. From Kathrine Switzer sneaking into the Boston Marathon in 1967 (and being literally tackled for it), to Simone Biles redefining mental health in elite sport, every milestone has been a masterclass in integrity under pressure.
And science backs this up. Studies show that female athletes are less likely to engage in doping, not because we’re biologically different, but because we’re socially conditioned to value community, fairness, and long-term health. Integrity isn’t just a principle, it’s a performance enhancer.”
Building on these examples, Dr. Matar urged stakeholders to adopt immediate safeguards: informed consent and purpose-limitation for genetic and biometric data, robust protections against discrimination, transparent oversight, and athlete education that demystifies the science. She stressed that the same rigor applied to training and medical protocols should govern the entire data life-cycle, from collection to storage and sharing.
“Modern sport throws curveballs. Genetic testing, AI-driven scouting, and biometric data are revolutionizing how we train and compete. Sounds exciting, right? But here’s the plot twist: without ethical oversight, these tools can become weapons. Imagine being benched because your DNA says you’re not built for endurance. That’s not science — that’s discrimination in a lab coat.
This is why SIGA’s work is so crucial. By promoting transparency, governance, and accountability, SIGA is building a sporting ecosystem where data serves athletes — not the other way around. And with SIGA ASIA now in play, we’re bringing this movement to a region where women are rising fast — not just in rankings, but in leadership.
So what’s next? We need to train integrity like we train muscles. That means mentorship, education, and yes — calling out bad behavior, even when it’s uncomfortable. Because when integrity fails, the damage isn’t just to the scoreboard — it’s to the soul of sport.”
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ABOUT SIGA
SIGA is the world’s leading organisation for Sport Integrity. We are creating a whole new landscape for the sports industry by delivering independent global rating and certification for world Sport to ensure it is governed and operates under the highest integrity standards: The SIGA Universal Standards.
Funded by our Members, SIGA is a non for profit global independent organisation with one aim: To ensure the sport industry is governed under the highest integrity standards so that the values of sport are protected.
SIGA is the only organisation to bring together sport, governments, academia, international organisations, sponsors, business, rights holders, NGOs and professional services companies, from every region in the world, around a common cause of fostering greater integrity throughout sport.
SIGA is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, as a non for-profit association, and comprises of the following continental subsidiaries: SIGA AMERICA, SIGA EUROPE and SIGA LATIN AMERICA.
For more information on SIGA, including its vision, mission and reform agenda, please refer to the website: www.siga-sport.com and FAQs.
To contact SIGA, please email: comms@siga-sport.com.
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