World Champion Luka Maisuradze suspended for doping

Georgian world Georgian world champion in the U90kg category Luka Maisuradze has been suspended until October 2024. The doping suspension of the world number one in 2023 has been confirmed after weeks of uncertainty. JudoInside noticed the rumours during the Paris Grand Slam but it couldn’t be confirmed.

Maisuradze wasn't selected for some of the major events. His last active competition was the Grand Slam of Tokyo where he reached the final U90kg.

Grand Slam TokyoThe first information about this was reported by a Russian Telegram channel. However, it remained unconfirmed until last week when new information surfaced, indicating that Maisuradze had been suspended until October 2024.

Renowned judo magazine L'Esprit du Judo contacted the International Judo Federation (IJF), which, in an email response, "does not deny that the athlete is ineligible until October 2024." This statement was confirmed by consulting the website of the Georgian Anti-Doping Agency, which published a fifteen-page document on December 5, 2023, regarding Maisuradze's suspension.

The doping control conducted by the Georgian agency took place on April 12, 2023. On the same day, the samples were sent to a laboratory accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency in Cologne, Germany. Ostarine, a non-steroidal anabolic agent that promotes muscle mass gain, recovery improvement, and weight loss, was detected in the A sample.

On June 9, 2023, the laboratory notified the Georgian agency of its results, which informed the judoka and the Georgian federation a few days later. In July, Maisuradze requested analyses of dietary supplements – in fact, pills to enhance concentration – taken just before the test, which were found to contain ostarine according to analyses conducted by the German laboratory weeks later. It was deemed an unintentional contamination.

In its judgment, the Georgian Anti-Doping Agency nevertheless cited negligence on the part of Maisuradze and his staff – particularly a rehabilitator who allegedly advised Maisuradze to take these products to improve his concentration – stating that not enough had been done to control the composition of the dietary supplements taken. Consequently, he has been suspended until October 16, 2024.

However, Maisuradze's absence is unlikely to harm Georgia's chances at the Olympics in this category as they have the formidable Lasha Bekauri, the reigning Olympic champion and vice world champion.