Merab Sharikadze, the emblematic Georgian center, faces an eleven-year suspension in a doping case. He has chosen to be transparent and testify about his actions and their disastrous consequences on himself and his entourage. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Sharikadze discusses the doping scandal that has rocked Georgian rugby. The former captain of the Lelos was suspended for 11 years and decided to clarify the situation before others could speak on his behalf. Sharikadze, who earned 104 caps for the Georgian national team, admitted to providing his urine sample to help teammates cheat on drug tests.
Sharikadze recounts how he was manipulated into the scheme and reveals the method used by the Georgian team doctor to help players evade positive test results. Despite feeling he was helping friends, Sharikadze acknowledges the gravity of his actions and the severe consequences. The doping scandal involving Sharikadze has tarnished his image and ended his rugby career, leading him to pursue a new path in MMA.
The scandal involves six players and a team member who were involved in a drug plan that included recreational drugs and urine sample substitutions. Sharikadze, who believed he was helping others, now feels betrayed and abandoned by those he assisted. His mother’s death due to stress and the impact on his family have added to the tragic consequences of his actions. Sharikadze, although guilty, questions the severity of the 11-year suspension and expresses a desire to rectify the situation. This doping scandal has taken a toll on a man once on the brink of a promising rugby career.
