Six Georgia rugby players sanctioned over ‘orchestrated’ doping scheme

Six Georgian rugby players and a team official have been sanctioned for anti-doping rule violations after a joint investigation uncovered what World Rugby described as an "orchestrated scheme" The probe, codenamed 'Operation Obsidian' and conducted by World Rugby and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), was launched in 2023 and exposed a system involving alleged sample substitution and collusion from within Georgia's own anti-doping body This Georgia rugby doping case has raised serious questions about institutional integrity.

Investigators found five instances where players allegedly swapped urine samples to avoid detection According to a WADA statement, the scheme was facilitated by employees of Georgia's national anti-doping agency (GADA). GADA staff allegedly provided players with advance warnings about upcoming drug tests Furthermore, doping control officers were found to have failed in their duties by not properly observing athletes during testing or witnessing the collection of urine samples, constituting a severe breach of protocol

World Rugby's statement specified the scheme involved "recreational drugs and sample substitution" While seven individuals have been charged and received World Rugby WADA sanctions, their names have not been publicly released The findings represent a significant rugby doping scandal for the nation.