Chelsea's out of favour winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been provisionally suspended from football after testing positive to doping test. The club confirmed on Tuesday that they had been contacted by the Football Association after an "adverse finding in a routine urine test" provided by the Ukraine international.
Chelsea in its official statement said, "Both the Club and Mykhailo fully support The FA’s testing programme and all our players, including Mykhailo, are regularly tested. Mykhailo has confirmed categorically that he has never knowingly used any banned substances. Both Mykhailo and the Club will now work with the relevant authorities to establish what has caused the adverse finding. The Club will not be commenting any further."
Mykhailo Mudryk releases statement after receiving ban
Taking to social media, Mudryk confirmed that he has been notified that the sample provided to The FA contained a banned substance. He further stated, " This has come as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules, and am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened."
"I know that I have not done anything wrong and remain hopeful that I will be back on the pitch soon. I cannot say any more now due to the confidentiality of the process, but I will as soon as I can"
Under the World Anti-Doping Code (WADA), players who fail a drugs test can be banned from football for up to four years. Paul Pogba, who tested positive for the banned substance dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) last August, was initially given a four-year suspension before it was reduced to 18 months following a successful appeal to the court of arbitration for sport.
Mykhailo Mudryk's season so far
Mudryk, who Chelsea signed from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023, has not played for new manager Enzo Maresca’s side since the 2-0 win over FC Heidenheim in the Conference League on November 28.
The 23-year-old was on the bench for Chelsea’s 3-0 win at home to Aston Villa on December 1 but was left as an unused substitute. Mudryk has been not been included in Chelsea’s last four matchday squads.
