Rugby star banned 11 years in urine-swapping scandal after ‘most extensive anti-doping investigation ever’

Source: New York Post

DUBLIN — Six players from Georgia’s rugby team have been handed long bans — including one for 11 years — for their involvement in a urine-swapping scheme to cheat anti-doping tests in one of the sport’s biggest corruption scandals. The case was described by World Rugby on Tuesday as “the most extensive anti-doping investigation ever undertaken in rugby. ” Former captain Merab Sharikadze was given the 11-year ban, while Giorgi Chkoidze was banned for six years, and Lasha Khmaladze, Otar Lashkhi and Miriani Modebadze received three-year suspensions.