Former Georgia rugby captain Merab Sharikadze has been banned from the sport for 11 years after a World Anti-Doping Agency and World Rugby investigation uncovered a scheme involving urine sample substitutions and advance warnings of drug tests.
Five players and a team official were sanctioned, with authorities alleging Sharikadze provided urine samples on behalf of teammates to help conceal banned substances. Team doctor Nutsa Shamatava received a nine-year ban for allegedly organising the substitutions and warning players about upcoming tests.
World Rugby said there was no evidence the scheme was used to hide performance-enhancing drugs, with players instead claiming the substitutions were intended to conceal cannabis and tramadol use.
The Georgia Rugby Union also accepted misconduct charges and financial penalties linked to the scandal, which occurred before the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
