A scandal world rugby could well have done without… A joint investigation carried out by World Rugby and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has led to sanctions for six Georgia internationals and a member of the Lelos staff for anti-doping rule violations. They were found guilty after the exposure of a system for manipulating anti-doping tests involving, in particular, the substitution of urine samples.

An investigation launched before the 2023 World Cup

The case originated in irregularities detected by World Rugby’s athlete monitoring programme. Those anomalies led to the launch of an in-depth investigation in 2023, codenamed “Operation Obsidian”, aimed at establishing the source of the inconsistencies in the tests.

According to the investigation’s findings, the inquiries uncovered five separate cases of “urine sample substitution” during anti-doping tests. The practice consists of replacing one player’s sample with another in order to avoid the detection of banned substances or of products that have been consumed.

Investigators also uncovered serious failings in the testing system. Employees of the Georgian national anti-doping agency are said to have tipped off certain players about upcoming tests in advance, in direct breach of international protocols.

Six players and one staff member sanctioned

At the end of the investigation, World Rugby confirmed that six Georgia internationals and one member of the backroom staff had committed anti-doping rule violations. The body refers to an “organised system involving the use of recreational drugs and the substitution of samples”.

WADA president Witold Bańka condemned a “scandalous” situation liable to have a significant impact on Georgian sport and on international rugby. The organisation also said it had lost confidence in Georgia’s anti-doping programme, calling for far-reaching reforms of it. One to watch, as other sanctions could be very, very heavy…