The Ukrainian risks a four-year ban after testing positive for a banned substance, and his future at Stamford Bridge now hangs in the balance
After a mightily underwhelming two years, Mykhailo Mudryk's Chelsea career may well be over before it has ever really begun in earnest. The Ukraine international has been suspended with immediate effect having tested positive for a banned substance, and it could be some time before he plays again.
It is difficult to overstate the significance of this seismic setback for a player who has toiled since he arrived on English shores in January 2023, but there is no doubt that this is the nadir of his time at Stamford Bridge and a low from which he may struggle to recover.
A provisional suspension which could turn into – at worse – a four-year ban, this is almost certainly the beginning of the end of Mudryk's time at Chelsea.
Getty Images SportDamning result
Reports emerged in Ukrainian media overnight on Monday alleging Mudryk had failed a recent drugs test, and it was confirmed by on Tuesday morning that the winger had been provisionally suspended by the FA as they await an explanation.
The 23-year-old provided a clear urine test in August, but a subsequent check – apparently after international duty with Ukraine in November – came back positive, and he now faces an anxious wait for the result of a 'B' sample. report claims he is citing contamination, and it's worth noting that his lawyers have insisted that he has not yet been charged with any doping offence.
Nevertheless, the failed test and subsequent suspension are crushing blows for a player who, in truth, was already fighting an uphill battle at Stamford Bridge.
Advertisement'I have not done anything wrong'
Mudryk is adamant he hasn't changed his routine since the initial test in August and is said to believe the contamination must have happened abroad, because the substance in question – believed to be meldonium – is supposedly not available in the UK.
In a statement, he maintained his innocence, claiming he had "never knowingly" consumed anything illicit. "This has come as a complete shock," he wrote. "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."
AFP'Adverse finding'
It has been claimed Chelsea are supportive of their player's case, although that wasn't made abundantly obvious in the club's own statement, other than acknowledging Mudryk's insistence that he had never knowingly consumed any prohibited substance.
"Both the club and Mykhailo fully support the FA’s testing programme and all our players, including Mykhailo, are regularly tested," a statement read. "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."
GettySmoke and mirrors
This news comes amid public claims that Mudryk has been "ill" in recent weeks, with head coach Enzo Maresca forced to field questions over his absence.
The attacker has not played a single minute since the Conference League victory over Heidenheim on November 28, sitting out Chelsea's last five Premier League games.
He was on the bench in two of those, but was left out of the squad entirely for the most recent three against Southampton, Tottenham and Brentford, and was not seen in training, either.
However, discussing the state of his squad following the victory over the Bees on Sunday, Maresca interestingly didn't actually give a reason for Mudryk's non-involvement. "Unfortunately during the session yesterday, Benoit [Badiashile] felt something, and Misha (Mudryk) is out too," he said.