July 10, 2022. Fireworks lit up the night sky over the Black Sea in the coastal city of Batumi as Georgia celebrated a deserved win over Italy, beating Six Nations opposition for the first time.
Just four months later, there was more joy for the Lelos – this time, in Cardiff. Their historic 13-12 victory over Wales at Principality Stadium was followed by more raucous celebrations.
Having witnessed both matches in person, Georgia’s two statement wins and impressive performances crystalised one thing in my mind – that they were worthy of being considered for Six Nations inclusion, via a promotion-relegation play-off. Failing that, the very least they had earned was more matches against top nations. I wrote as much.
Georgia had proved in 2022 they were capable of beating the best, so my view was that they’d shown they had what it takes to rival the best in European rugby.
At the time, I was impressed by Georgia’s sporting progression and as someone who has always railed against the elite international game’s closed shop, I banged the drum for their inclusion at the top table.
Now, I know I was duped.
Georgia’s players celebrate victory over Wales at the Principality Stadium in 2022
At the time, Georgia’s sporting progression seemed impressive and I banged the drum for their inclusion at rugby’s top table. Now I know I was duped
Daily Mail Sport visits the Georgian team ahead of the 2023 World Cup
So too were Georgian rugby supporters and the game as a whole. Even World Rugby – the game’s governing body – were conned, initially anyway. On the surface, Georgia’s rugby ascent looked like it had been driven by hard work and improved performance.
Now, it has emerged it was built on a web of lies, deceit and cheating through ‘an orchestrated scheme involving recreational drugs and sample substitution’.
It is a stain on the nation’s sporting reputation.
Four years since those famous 2022 victories, it has been confirmed that players instrumental to them in the build-up to the 2023 World Cup have – justly – received long bans for anti-doping violations. They are led by former Georgia captain Merab Sharikadze.
Centre Sharikadze mysteriously disappeared from rugby in 2024. Now we know why. He is currently an MMA fighter and has been banned from the game in which he led his country for 11 years. Sharikadze is one of six Georgians who have been given a hefty punishment for their actions, alongside the nation’s former medical guru Nutsa Shamatava. Her ban is nine years.
The other players involved are Giorgi Chkoidze, Lasha Khmaladze, Otar Lashkhi, Lasha Lomidze and Miriani Modebadze. Sharikadze, Chkoidze and Khmaladze all played in the Italy and Wales wins, the results of which now must be considered in an entirely different light. It is vital to make clear at this point that not all Georgian players were guilty.
Daily Mail Sport has spoken to leading figures who were at the top of the country’s rugby operation at the time who say they weren’t aware of what was going on.
But unfortunately, they will now forever be associated with the illegal actions of their colleagues. It doesn’t matter that the drugs involved were not performance enhancing.
Four years since those famous 2022 victories, it has been confirmed that players including former captain Merab Sharikadze have been banned for anti-doping violations
Sharikadze has been banned for 11 years under ‘Operation Obsidian’
Daily Mail Sport was given access all areas but not for one second could I have guessed what was going on behind closed doors
What does matter is the levels of secrecy and obfuscation which took place. Some senior employees in Georgian rugby knew they were breaking the rules and tried to get away with it.
That is unforgiveable.
They were helped by the country’s own anti-doping organisation, showing this issue is actually far bigger than rugby.
World Rugby are absolutely right to throw the book at Georgia after completing ‘the most extensive anti-doping investigation ever undertaken’ in the sport – one which lasted four years.
Georgian players were tipped off about upcoming drugs tests through their own anti-doping agency and Shamatava, who would inform the players via WhatsApp. Urine tests would then be switched to hide the use of cannabis and painkiller tramadol, with Sharikadze providing clean samples. The captain tried to cover for his team-mates, but has ended up paying the heaviest price of all.
The Georgian union have also been handed a misconduct charge and a financial penalty by World Rugby. Frankly, they are lucky not to have been handed a team ban from competition.
It is hard not to feel angry at Georgia’s actions. I spent an entire day with the team in Edinburgh in 2023 ahead of that year’s World Cup – a tournament at which, ironically, Georgia badly underperformed. I was given access all areas to team meetings, meals and training. Not for one second could I have guessed what was going on behind closed doors.
A penny too for the thoughts of Wayne Pivac. The former Wales coach was sacked in the aftermath of the Georgia defeat, that result a key reason for his dismissal.
We’ll never know if Wales would have beaten Georgia if the Lelos had been operating cleanly, but it’s hard to get away from the fact things may well have been different.
Who knows, Pivac may well still be Wales coach.
A penny two for the thoughts of Wayne Pivac. The former Wales coach was sacked in the aftermath of the Georgia defeat, that result a key reason for his dismissal
One thing is for sure. Georgia certainly won’t be competing in the Six Nations at any point in the near future.
There is absolutely no chance they will be allowed to join the elite as things stand, with their reputation in the gutter.
Further, their performances have nosedived badly since 2023 and the country has had significant political upheaval amid wranglings with nearby Russia.
It is now a long way back for Georgia. They have let themselves and the game of rugby down. For that, they have been rightly punished.
