Rugby Union

Merab Sharikadze and five other players were banned for breaking anti-doping rules.

In short:

Six Georgian rugby players were banned for swapping urine samples.

World Rugby and the World Anti-Doping Agency found that six players and an official broke anti-doping rules.

Players swapped urine samples to avoid detection, and some employees warned players about upcoming tests.

Former Georgia captain Merab Sharikadze was banned for 11 years for his part in the scheme.

A joint investigation by WADA and World Rugby found that six players and an official broke anti-doping rules.

Sharikadze was banned for 11 years, and hooker Giorgi Chkoidze was banned for six years.

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Three players received three-year suspensions, and one official was banned for nine years.

The suspensions are backdated and include provisional suspensions issued to all individuals.

WADA found that players swapped urine samples to avoid detection, and employees warned players about tests.

The investigation started when World Rugby found irregularities in urine samples.

Sharikadze provided a urine sample for three players, and DNA analysis confirmed it was his sample.

The DNA comparisons confirmed that the samples matched Sharikadze's DNA profile.

An official was identified as the organiser of the urine sample substitution and warned players about tests.

World Rugby found no evidence that the players used performance-enhancing substances.

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There was evidence that the players swapped urine samples to hide the use of non-performance-enhancing substances.

World Rugby charged the Georgia Rugby Union with misconduct, and they accepted the charge.

The incident happened before the 2023 men's Rugby World Cup in France.

Sharikadze has retired from rugby and now competes in mixed martial arts.

Reuters

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