Anti-doping law in Georgia is built on the anti-doping chapter added to the Law on Sport in 2023 — a complete institutional regime: definitions, certification of persons, international bases, the exclusive powers of the Georgian Anti-Doping Agency and the obligations of sports organizations. On this page we explain the regime — for the athlete, the club and the federation alike.
Definitions and Certification
The anti-doping chapter first builds its vocabulary. The Georgian Anti-Doping Agency is a non-commercial legal entity registered in Georgia, recognized by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the ministry, which leads and conducts anti-doping activity in the country; the Georgian Anti-Doping Rules are the set of anti-doping rules developed by the Agency in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code, confirmed by the World Agency and approved by the Minister of Sport, published as a legal act; the World Anti-Doping Code is the set of rules approved by the World Agency, an annex to the UNESCO Convention; and the integrity of sport is the set of principles and values of the sports sphere, including its protection from violations. Terms not interpreted here are interpreted by the Code. The second layer is persons: the certification of a person employed in the doping sphere is carried out by an international or national anti-doping organization authorized under the international standard for testing and investigations developed by the World Agency, and without the certificate a person cannot carry out the activity subject to certification.
General Bases and the Agency's Autonomy
The prevention of and fight against doping in Georgia is carried out on the basis of the Council of Europe Anti-Doping Convention, the UNESCO International Convention, the World Anti-Doping Code and the international standards connected with it, the Georgian Anti-Doping Rules and other acts. General coordination belongs to the inter-agency commission for the protection of sport integrity. Persons involved in doping control and other anti-doping activity are obliged not to allow a conflict of interest with the Agency's interests and to respect its autonomy and independence — a norm that protects the Agency from politicization.
The Agency's Exclusive Powers
The Georgian Anti-Doping Agency exercises the powers defined by the law, other acts, the World Code and the Georgian Rules. It has the exclusive competence to carry out anti-doping-related actions on the territory of Georgia, except where the action is carried out by the World Agency, an international federation or an event organizer in a case provided by the Code. The Georgian Rules extend to every national federation, every athlete competing in the name of Georgia and every natural and legal person. The Agency's functions are specific: developing and implementing a one-year program conforming to the Code; doping control; prevention and detection of violations and reaction by referral to the disciplinary/appeal organ; publishing the updated list of prohibited substances and methods on its official website by the end of every calendar year; raising the qualification of specialists; and reporting to the ministry at least once a year. Its financing is targeted, received from the ministry under a contract, and may also come from international and Georgian sports organizations. The disciplinary and appeal mechanisms that examine violations of the Rules are defined by the Rules and by the organ's statute, which the World Agency must confirm before approval and entry into force.
The Obligations of Sports Organizations
The anti-doping regime extends to sports organizations as well. An organization must ensure the automatic recognition of the Agency's competence and the Georgian Rules and cooperation with the Agency; the creation of the conditions needed for doping control and support of the Agency; anti-doping propaganda and educational programs; the implementation of measures following from the consequences of a violation of the Rules; and the termination of all financing of a person during the operation of a sanction against him. This last obligation carries a state sanction of its own: where the obligations are not performed, the ministry may suspend or terminate the financing of the organization. For a club this means that anti-doping compliance is a question not only of ethics but of financial survival.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below we answer the questions that arise most often around the anti-doping regime.
Who leads anti-doping activity in Georgia?
The Georgian Anti-Doping Agency, with exclusive competence, except for cases of the World Agency, an international federation or an organizer under the Code.
Where is the prohibited list published?
The Agency publishes the updated list on its official website by the end of every calendar year.
To whom do the Georgian Rules extend?
To every national federation, every athlete competing for Georgia and every natural and legal person.
What happens to an organization that fails its duties?
The ministry may suspend or terminate its financing.
Who decides a violation case?
The disciplinary and appeal organs, whose statute the World Agency confirms; the Agency detects facts and reacts by referral.
How We Help on Legal.ge
The Legal.ge team assists athletes, their personnel, clubs and federations in their relationship with the anti-doping regime. We explain the scope of the Rules, check the performance of an organization's obligations, prepare positions before the disciplinary and appeal organs, and protect interests in financing matters. Contact us for a consultation — we will assess your situation and plan the defence or the compliance before a violation occurs.