World Rugby has completed the largest anti-doping investigation in the sport’s history.
It has resulted in sanctioning six Georgian players, a team doctor, and a charge against Georgia Rugby Union.
The players were found to have swapped urine samples prior to the 2023 Men’s Rugby World Cup. The former Georgia captain had the most significant punishment, with a ban of 11 years.
Here’s what happened.
What happened
World Rugby found that six Georgian players swapped their urine with someone else's during drug testing.
A joint investigation by World Rugby and the World Anti-Doping Agency (dubbed "Operation Obsidian"), found the scheme had been operating for years.
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This included team doctor Nutsa Shamatava passing on tip-offs from employees inside Georgia’s national anti-doping agency to warn players about upcoming tests. Shamatava has received a nine-year ban.
What they said
World Rugby said investigators found no evidence the urine substitutions were used to hide performance-enhancing drugs, with credible evidence instead suggesting players were trying to conceal the use of cannabis and tramadol.
World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said: “Our extensive four-year investigation has helped identify subversion of the doping control process and sends a clear message that World Rugby takes all anti-doping matters extremely seriously”.
What's next
Georgia’s national team will still compete and the sanctioned players and team doctor have the right to appeal.
They are still scheduled to compete at the World Rugby Nations Cup in July and the Men’s Rugby World Cup next year in Australia, which begins 1 October.
