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6 March 2026
The ITA, on behalf of the ICF, confirms that the athlete Levan Tatunashvili has agreed¹ to the consequences imposed for his anti-doping rule violation (ADRV).
As previously reported, the athlete tested positive for the prohibited substance meldonium after providing a sample on 23 May 2025 at the 2025 ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup in Poznan, Poland. On 25 June 2025, upon being notified of the case, the athlete was provisionally suspended with immediate effect.
The athlete did not contest the ADRV and agreed to the consequences proposed by the ITA. Due to his early admission, he was entitled to a one-year reduction of the otherwise four-year period of ineligibility usually imposed for a violation involving the presence of meldonium, as set forth in Article 10.8.1 of the ICF Anti‑Doping Rules (ICF ADR).² Accordingly, the matter was resolved through an acceptance of consequences.
The athlete’s period of ineligibility runs from 25 June 2025 until 24 June 2028. In addition, all individual results obtained by the athlete at the 2025 ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup and during the period from 23 May 2025 to 25 June 2025 are disqualified, including forfeiture of medals, points and prizes.
The decision may be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport by any party with a right of appeal, in accordance with Article 13.2.3 of the ICF ADR.
The ITA will not comment further on this case.
¹ Athletes have the right to choose not to have their case referred to a hearing panel. In these instances, the anti-doping organisation will assess the athlete’s case file and establish the applicable consequences pursuant to the anti-doping rules and the athlete will have the right to accept the proposed consequences. If the athlete refuses the proposed consequences, the case is transferred to a hearing panel. This resolution mechanism is provided for in articles 8.3.1 and 8.3.3 of the ICF anti-doping rules and 8.3 of the World Anti-Doping Code and is commonly referred to as an agreement on consequences and is deemed an ICF/ITA decision. The athlete’s National Anti-Doping Organisation and the World Anti-Doping Agency have the right to appeal the agreement on consequences before the competent appeal body.
² Article 10.8.1 of the ICF ADR (and World Anti-Doping Code) provides for a one-year reduction for certain ADRVs based on early admission and acceptance of sanction. This applies where an athlete after being notified by the ICF/ITA of a potential ADRV that carries an asserted period of Ineligibility of four (4) or more years, admits the violation and accepts the asserted period of Ineligibility no later than twenty (20) days after receiving notice of an ADRV charge. Where the athlete receives the one-year reduction under Article 10.8.1, no further reduction in the period of Ineligibility is allowed.
