Story perspectives
World Rugby Imposes 11-Year Ban on Georgian Captain ??
5/12/2026
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Story summary
- World Rugby banned captain Merab Sharikadze for 11 years for orchestrating a doping scheme.
- Operation Obsidian uncovered five 2019 urine-sample swaps.
- World Rugby said the scheme hid recreational drug use.
- Nutsa Shamatava received a nine-year ban, suspensions ranging from six years for Giorgi Chkoidze to nine months for Lasha Lomidze.
- Georgia finished bottom of its pool at the 2023 Rugby World Cup after a draw with Portugal and losses.
