In September 2020, the court found Giorgi Kushitashvili guilty of unlawful possession of drugs without intent to sell and using violence against a government official. The athlete was sentenced to three years of probation. Also, the boxer was expelled from the Russian national team and was not allowed to participate in the national championships.
Kushitashvili is a double champion of Russia, participating in the 2019 World Cup. In May 2022, Kushitashvili, already a member of the Georgian national team, won the European championship. Now the boxer takes part in the World Championships in Tashkent and has already reached the quarterfinals in the weight category up to 86 kg.
After reaching the quarter-finals, Kushitashvili answered several questions from .
– It’s great for me to play for the Georgian national team. I myself am Georgian. Yes, in Russia it almost failed, it went wrong. Somehow it’s my fault, but that’s a thing of the past. And so I’m getting high to play for the Georgian national team.
– At the professional level (Georgy won two first victories in the tournaments of the Russian promotion RCC Boxing Promotions – “”) will you play for Georgia or for Russia?
– In any case, Russia and Georgia will be heard. As an athlete, I took place in Russia, so this country will definitely sound.
— Do you follow Russia’s performance at the World Cup?
– I only know the results, but I don’t watch the fights.
– Who do you communicate with?
– I have good and warm relations with all the boys. But there is no direct close contact, of course – we always play for different teams. And if you take it in general, then I communicate well with Sergei Sobylinsky, Ivan Veryasov, Andrei Zamkov, Alexei Semykin. In short, my generation. Even though I’m 27, and I’m not old yet, but I’m not young either.
– The Russian Sharabutdin Ataev performs in your category.
– We have a great relationship. But in the ring, we are competitors.
– Is European Championship gold in the Georgian national team the greatest achievement of your career?
– Probably yes. Now, at the World Championships, my goal is to win gold. For that, I came here.
– Do you miss playing for the Russian national team?
– You know yourself, I was banned from boxing for the Russian national team. And they gave the green light to play for the Georgian national team. Thanks to Umar Nazarovich Kremlev (head of IBA) for this opportunity. And Tatyana Kirienko (general secretary of the Russian Boxing Federation) let me go, all the documents were collected.
I want to draw your attention: I am very grateful to the Russian team. To this day, the Russian team supports me. Elementary, I can ask to hold a training camp with the team, and they won’t refuse me. They consider me theirs there and I consider the Russian national team as my team.
— How has the story of early 2020 affected you?
— I am grateful for this situation, it has toughened me, made me stronger and, above all, made me better than I was before this moment. Then I rethought a lot, set priorities. Now let’s go! I am grateful to the fans, and also – I said, I say and I will say – thank you to the Russian team.
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Watch live broadcasts of the World Cup in Tashkent on and Match! Fighter”.
Source : MatchTV
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
