Georgia Rugby: Six players and officials have been sanctioned for anti-doping violations

Six Georgia players and a team official have been sanctioned for anti-doping rule violations as part of what Rugby World described as a “coordinated scheme”.

A joint investigation by World Rugby and the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) discovered a scheme involving alleged sample substitution and advance warnings of drug tests.

The investigation, dubbed “Operation Obsidian,” was launched in 2023 and found five cases in which players allegedly exchanged urine samples to avoid detection.

A WADA statement said that staff of the Georgia National Anti-Doping Agency (JADA) also informed the players about the upcoming tests and that doping control officers failed to properly monitor the athletes during the test and did not witness the urine collection.

A World Rugby statement described the matter as a “coordinated scheme involving recreational drugs and sample swapping” and said seven people had been charged and punished.

The names of the individuals involved have not been released and World Rugby said it was “unable to make any further comment until the full disciplinary process (results management) has been completed and results and sanctions published”.

It added that the investigation “began when irregularities were identified in urine samples through the World Rugby Federation’s Athlete Passport Management Programme, covering an extended period of time prior to the 2023 Men’s Rugby World Cup.”

Georgia finished last in its group in France, failing to win any of its four matches.

WADA added that it is now reviewing samples of Georgian athletes in other sports.

“What is happening in Georgian rugby is outrageous and will send shockwaves through sport and the Georgian government, as well as the global game,” WADA President Vitold Banka said.

“This is not the end of the story as more investigations are now taking place deeper into Georgian sports,” he added.

“WADA has lost confidence in JADA’s anti-doping programme, and comprehensive changes must now be made by the relevant authorities,” he added.