In a stunning blow to Georgian rugby, former national team captain Merab Sharikadze has been handed an 11-year ban for orchestrating a sophisticated doping cover-up scheme. The scandal has rocked the sport, with five other players also facing lengthy suspensions.
Sharikadze, who famously led Georgia to a historic victory over Wales in Cardiff in 2022, admitted to providing "clean" urine samples to teammates to help them evade anti-doping tests. The investigation revealed a coordinated effort involving Georgia's national testing authority, which would tip off team doctor Nutsa Shamatava about upcoming tests. She then shared the information through a team group chat.
World Rugby flagged suspicious patterns in samples collected from the team ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Upon retesting historical samples, authorities uncovered five instances of sample substitution involving Sharikadze and five other players, dating back to 2019. The governing body believes the scheme was designed to conceal recreational drug use.
The full list of sanctions includes: hooker Giorgi Chkoidze receiving a six-year ban, Lasha Khmaladze, Otar Lashkhi, and Miriani Modebadze each suspended for three years, and Lasha Lomidze banned for nine months.
The timing of the scandal adds another layer of intrigue. Sharikadze played in three of Georgia's pool matches at the 2023 World Cup, while Chkoidze withdrew from the tournament just before it began, citing an injury from a warm-up match. Modebadze started against Australia in the tournament opener before being replaced by Lashkhi due to injury. Khmaladze started at full-back in the loss to Wales, and Lomidze—who had brief stints with English clubs London Irish and Doncaster—was not included in the squad.
Georgia finished at the bottom of their pool, managing only a draw against Portugal and losing their other three matches. The scandal marks a dark chapter for the Lelos, who had been building momentum on the international stage.
Sharikadze, just 30 years old, has since retired from rugby and transitioned to mixed martial arts, winning his debut bout in November 2025. But this ban will cast a long shadow over his legacy and serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of cheating in sport.