The ITA acknowledges CAS ADD decision sanctioning wrestler Zurabi Datunashvili for anti-doping rule violations

¹On 11 April 2023, the ITA initiated disciplinary proceedings and imposed a provisional suspension¹ on Zurabi Datunashvili in relation to the use by the athlete of urine substitution and the use of fabricated evidence to justify a missed out-of-competition doping control which occurred on 6 January 2022 and during which the athlete could not be located.

On 22 November 2023, the ITA referred the case to the CAS ADD and a hearing took place on 1 and 2 July 2024 during which the ITA represented United World Wrestling (UWW).

On 19 September 2024, and after hearing the parties and considering the written submissions and evidence, CAS ADD found that the athlete had committed the anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) of the use of a prohibited method (urine substitution) and of the tampering with any part of doping control (use of fabricated evidence) in accordance with Articles 2.2 and 2.5 of the UWW Anti-Doping Rules.

CAS ADD sanctioned Zurabi Datunashvili with 5 years of ineligibility. All results obtained by the athlete from 27 May 2021 until 11 April 2023 (date of the provisional suspension) are disqualified.

The athlete has since appealed the decision before the appeal division of CAS. Datunashvili is only disputing the ADRV for urine substitution and related disqualification of results; the tampering charge is not challenged. Considering that the appeal is ongoing, the reallocation of results and medals process is suspended until a final decision is rendered in this case.

The ITA will not comment further on this case during the appeal proceedings.