Mykhailo Mudryk Provisionally Suspended: Chelsea Forward Faces FA Action After 'Adverse Finding' in Drug Test

Chelsea say Mykhailo Mudryk "has never knowingly used any banned substances" with the player insisting: "I have not done anything wrong"; Mudryk, who has not been in recent Chelsea squads, believes his sample was contaminated; he faces a potential ban of up to four years under FA rules.

Ukrainian player Mykhailo Mudryk faces a potential ban of up to four years under FA rules

The positive test was for the prohibited substance meldonium which was administered abroad when Mudryk was not on Chelsea duty.

Mudryk, who faces a potential ban of up to four years under FA rules, said in a statement this is "a complete shock" and he has "not done anything wrong".

He is not training at Cobham currently and is on an individual fitness programme at home, and is thought to be devastated by the news.

The player believes his sample was contaminated, with nothing thought to have changed in his diet since he passed a UK Anti-Doping test in August.

Chelsea have launched their own investigation and said the 23-year-old insists he "has never knowingly used any banned substances".

Chelsea have pledged to fully support Mykhailo Mudryk during this challenging period, including offering access to mental health professionals if needed.

Mudryk has been absent from Chelsea’s squad for the last four matches, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing his absence to illness. The Ukrainian winger, who joined from Shakhtar Donetsk for £88.5m in January 2023, last featured for the Blues in a 2-0 Conference League victory against Heidenheim on November 28.

This season, Mudryk has scored three goals in 15 appearances. He was most recently on the bench as an unused substitute in Chelsea's 3-0 win over Aston Villa on December 1 at Stamford Bridge.

Under FA rules, a player is informed of a positive test result and provisionally suspended before any formal charges are made. During this time, Mudryk has the chance to provide an explanation for the findings.

Source: SkySports News | 'Adverse Finding' in Premier League Player Drug Test

Chelsea's statement read: "Chelsea Football Club can confirm the Football Association recently contacted our player Mykhailo Mudryk concerning an adverse finding in a routine urine test.

"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."

Mudryk, in his own statement, added: "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."