A doping violation is a career risk for the athlete and a sanctions-and-funding risk for their environment. In Georgia the field is structured by the anti-doping chapter of the Law on Sport: the norm on prohibited means, the powers of the anti-doping agency and the obligations of sports organisations are summarised in one frame. This page explains what counts as a violation, who detects it, and what consequences follow for the athlete and their surroundings.
Prohibited Means and the Facilitator's Liability
The twenty-seventh article of the law establishes the general prohibition: in the sphere of sport activity, for the purpose of achieving high results by an athlete, it is impermissible to use such methods and stimulating means as are prohibited by Georgian legislation, by the statutes of national sports federations and international sports organisations, and by other legal acts. An important part of the same article is the facilitator's liability: a person who consciously facilitates the use of such means answers under Georgian legislation. This means that a coach, a member of the medical staff or a manager who knowingly supports the use of prohibited means becomes a liable person in their own right — the circle of the violation extends beyond the athlete. For support personnel the practical conclusion is stark: involvement short of use still counts, and the defence of "I did not take anything myself" does not answer the norm.
The Georgian Anti-Doping Agency
Anti-doping activity in the country is run by the Georgian Anti-Doping Agency: a non-commercial legal person exercising its powers under the law, other normative acts, the World Anti-Doping Code and the Georgian anti-doping rules. The agency holds the exclusive competence to carry out actions related to anti-doping activity on the territory of Georgia, except where those actions are performed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, an international sports federation or an event organiser in the cases provided by the Code. The Georgian anti-doping rules extend to all national sports federations, to every athlete competing for Georgia, and to natural and legal persons. Among the agency's functions, decisive for violations are: doping control; the prevention of violations of the Georgian anti-doping rules and the detection of facts of violations — including the participation of athletes, members of athlete support personnel or other persons — with the corresponding response by referral to the disciplinary or appeal organ; and the publication of the updated list of prohibited substances and methods on its official website by the end of every calendar year. Reporting must not lag either: the agency submits a report to the Ministry at least once a year, and additionally on request.