Chelsea and Ukraine winger Mykhailo Mudryk is facing a potential four-year ban from football after being officially charged by the Football Association (FA) with an anti-doping violation. The 24-year-old had been provisionally suspended in December following a positive test for the banned performance-enhancing substance meldonium.
The FA confirmed the charge on Wednesday, stating that Mudryk had been charged under Regulations 3 and 4 of its Anti-Doping Regulations, which relate to the presence and/or use of a prohibited substance. The charge follows the analysis of the player’s ‘B’ sample, which reportedly supported the findings of the initial ‘A’ sample.
“We can confirm that Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged with Anti-Doping Rule Violations alleging the presence and/or use of a prohibited substance,” said an FA spokesperson.
“As this is an ongoing case, we are not in a position to comment further at this time.”
Substance Likely Taken Abroad
Sources close to the matter suggest that the drug may have been administered while Mudryk was outside the UK, possibly prior to his move to Chelsea or during a visit abroad. Meldonium, the substance found in his system, is a metabolic modulator banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) since 2016, and was most notably linked to tennis star Maria Sharapova’s suspension.
Mudryk’s Response: “I Know I Have Not Done Anything Wrong”
In a December Instagram post, shortly after news of his provisional suspension emerged, Mudryk expressed disbelief and denied any intentional wrongdoing:
“This has come as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules. I know that I have not done anything wrong and remain hopeful that I will be back on the pitch soon,” he wrote.
He added that he was cooperating with his legal and professional team to investigate how the substance entered his system, and would share more information once the process allows.
Chelsea Declines to Comment
Chelsea Football Club has declined to issue any public comment following the FA’s latest action. The club has reportedly been closely monitoring the process but is maintaining silence due to the ongoing legal proceedings and confidentiality protocols.
What Happens Next?
If found guilty, Mudryk could face a ban ranging from a few months up to four years, depending on whether the panel finds the substance use intentional or accidental. His legal team is expected to push for a reduction in sentence by proving lack of intent and possibly contaminated supplement use.
As the investigation continues, the football world now waits to see whether Mudryk’s promising Premier League career will be temporarily derailed—or permanently stained—by this doping charge.
