Georgia’s Merab Sharikadze gets 11-year ban for role in urine-swapping rugby doping scandal

Former Georgia rugby captain Merab Sharikadze, 32, has received an 11-year ban as part of the biggest anti-doping investigation in World Rugby's history. In total, six members of Georgia's men's team and a medical official were handed lengthy suspensions after evidence of urine sample swapping and advance warnings of drug tests being given to players was uncovered. While no proof of performance-enhancing substance use was found, the urine substitutions were determined to have concealed non-performance-enhancing substances such as cannabis and tramadol.