Merab Sharikadze: Former Georgia captain banned for 11 years for doping fraud

Former Georgia captain Merab Sharikazhe has been banned from the sport for 11 years for a secret scheme to have national team players cheat anti-doping tests.

Hooker Georgi Chekoidez was banned for six years, while Lasha Kmaladze, Otar Lashki and Miriani Modebadze were banned for three years, and Lasha Lomize was banned for nine months.

Sharikaze, In the year who led Georgia to a famous victory over Wales in Cardiff in 2022; He admitted to giving ‘pure’ urine to teammates.

The World Anti-Doping Agency’s investigation confirmed that the National Testing Authority of Georgia would provide information about upcoming tests to the Georgian team’s Dr. Nutsa Shamatava, and she would share the information in team group discussions.

In the year World Rugby, which sampled substances from the squad at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, said it believed the sample substitution scheme was designed to hide recreational drugs.

The game’s governing body has provided historical samples from 2019 showing five substitutions involving Sharikaze and five other players.

Sharikadez played in all three Lille pool games at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, while stalwart Chakoidez was ruled out due to an injury suffered in a pre-tournament match.

Winger Modebadez started the team’s opening match against Australia at the Stade de France, and was replaced by Laskey in the squad due to injury.

Khmaladze started at the back of Nantes’ defeat to Wales, while back-row Lomize, who had short spells in England against London Irish and Doncaster, did not feature in the tournament.

Georgia finished at the bottom of the pool after drawing with their Portuguese counterpart and losing their other three matches.

The most high-profile of the banned players, Sharikazhe turned 30 shortly after his retirement and switched careers to become an MMA fighter, winning his debut in November 2025.