6Pre-AdvancedExamSports

Former Georgia Rugby Captain Receives Severe Anti-Doping Ban

Merab Sharikadze, the former captain of Georgia's national rugby team, has been banned for 11 years after violating anti-doping regulations. The case, part of a wider investigation called Operation Obsidian, has also resulted in suspensions for five of his teammates and exposed serious failures within Georgian sport.

2 min readLevel 6May 12, 2026

By Flalingo Editorial Team

Vocabulary

Study these words before reading the article. Click the audio button to hear pronunciation.

orchestrated

/ˈɔːkɪstreɪtɪd/

adjective

Carefully planned and organised by someone in a deliberate way

“The police discovered that the robbery had been orchestrated by a former employee of the bank.”

substitution

/ˌsʌbstɪˈtjuːʃən/

noun

The act of replacing one thing with another

“The substitution of fake documents for real ones was discovered during the audit.”

irregularities

/ɪˌreɡjʊˈlærɪtiz/

noun

Things that are not normal or correct, often suggesting dishonest behaviour

“Financial irregularities in the company's accounts led to a full investigation.”

accumulated

/əˈkjuːmjʊleɪtɪd/

verb

Gradually gathered or collected a large amount of something over time

“Over the years, the researcher had accumulated a vast amount of data on climate change.”

consequently

/ˈkɒnsɪkwəntli/

adverb

As a result; therefore

“The factory released harmful chemicals into the river and consequently faced heavy fines.”

determination

/dɪˌtɜːmɪˈneɪʃən/

noun

A strong decision or firm effort to do something, even when it is difficult

“The team's determination to uncover the truth led to a successful outcome.”

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Article

Click on any underlined word to see its definition. Highlighted words are from the vocabulary section.

Former Georgia rugby captain Merab Sharikadze has been banned from the sport for 11 years. The severe punishment follows a major anti-doping investigation conducted by World Rugby and WADA. The joint probe, named Operation Obsidian, uncovered an orchestrated scheme involving sample substitution. Five of his teammates have also received suspensions of up to six years. This scandal represents one of the most significant anti-doping cases in rugby history.

The investigation was launched in 2023 after irregularities were detected in urine samples. World Rugby's athlete passport programme identified the problems before the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Investigators found five instances where players had allegedly swapped urine samples. Furthermore, employees of Georgia's national anti-doping agency had warned players about upcoming tests. Doping control officers had also failed to properly observe athletes during the testing process.

Sharikadze had been one of Georgian rugby's most distinguished figures before this scandal. He had accumulated over 100 international appearances and captained Georgia at three World Cups. The centre had also led Georgia to a historic victory over Wales in 2022. His involvement in the scheme has consequently damaged the reputation of Georgian rugby significantly.

WADA president Witold Banka described the situation in Georgian rugby as outrageous. He warned that the findings would send shockwaves through Georgian sport and government. WADA has since lost confidence in the Georgian Anti-Doping Agency entirely. The investigation is reportedly ongoing, with authorities now examining other sports in Georgia. This case demonstrates that anti-doping authorities will pursue cheating with determination and professionalism.

Comprehension Quiz

Test your understanding of the article with these multiple-choice questions.

1
How long is Merab Sharikadze's ban from rugby?
2
What was the investigation into the Georgian anti-doping scandal called?
3
How many of Sharikadze's teammates also received suspensions?
4
When was the investigation into the Georgian players launched?
5
What did WADA president Witold Banka say about the Georgian Anti-Doping Agency?

Discussion

Answer these comprehension questions about the article.

1
According to the article, what was the name of the joint investigation that uncovered the anti-doping violations?
2
The author suggests that this scandal is historically significant. What evidence from the article supports this claim?
3
What role did employees of Georgia's national anti-doping agency play in the cheating scheme?
4
According to the passage, how did investigators first identify the problems with the Georgian players' samples?
5
What does WADA president Witold Banka's response suggest about the wider implications of this case for Georgian sport?

Further Discussion

Share your opinions on these open-ended questions.

1
Do you think an 11-year ban is a fair punishment for anti-doping violations, or should it be longer or shorter? Explain your reasoning.
2
In your opinion, should team captains face harsher penalties than other players when they are involved in cheating schemes? Why or why not?
3
How do you think doping scandals affect young athletes who look up to professional sports stars as role models?
4
Some argue that anti-doping rules are too strict, while others say they are necessary to protect fair competition. What is your view?
5
If you were in charge of reforming Georgia's anti-doping agency, what changes would you implement to prevent future scandals?