Ex-Georgia captain Sharikadze gets 11-year ban over urine-swapping scheme
Summary
Former Georgia rugby captain Merab Sharikadze has been banned from sports for 11 years for helping players cheat drug tests by providing clean urine. Five other Georgian players also received bans or suspensions for their roles in the scheme, which involved swapping urine samples to hide drug use.Key Facts
- Merab Sharikadze received an 11-year ban for involvement in a urine-swapping doping scheme.
- Five other Georgian rugby players received bans ranging from nine months to six years.
- The scheme involved the national testing authority alerting the team doctor about upcoming drug tests.
- The team doctor shared this information via a group chat, allowing players to swap urine samples.
- Retests of samples from 2019 to 2023 found five instances of urine substitution.
- The doping violations were aimed at hiding the use of recreational drugs.
- Sharikadze ended his rugby career and became an MMA fighter, winning his first fight in 2025.
- Georgia finished last in their pool at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with one draw and three losses.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.