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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Harry Latham-Coyle

Former Georgia captain banned for 11 years after rugby doping scandal

Merab Sharikadze Rugby Georgia World Rugby Wada
Merab Sharikadze has been given a long ban - (Getty)

Former Georgia rugby captain Merab Sharikadze has been given an 11-year ban for his involvement in an “orchestrated scheme involving recreational drugs and sample substitution”.

Six internationals were charged in March following a joint investigation by World Rugby and the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) dubbed “Operation Obsidian”, which found five instances where players allegedly swapped urine samples to avoid detection. Employees of Georgia's national anti-doping agency also tipped off players about upcoming tests, Wada said.

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