Mykhailo Mudryk Cleared to Return Immediately
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk can resume his career right away after reaching an agreement with the Football Association regarding his prolonged doping case.
The FA announced on Friday that the disciplinary proceedings have been concluded after Mudryk admitted to a breach of anti‑doping regulations and accepted a sanction equivalent to the period he had already served. Consequently, he is eligible to compete with immediate effect.
In a statement, Mudryk said he felt relieved to put the ordeal behind him, describing it as the toughest chapter of his career.
He added, “From the outset I have always maintained that I never knowingly or intentionally took any banned substance.”
Chelsea welcomed the outcome, saying the club is eager to support the winger’s return and looks forward to helping him regain full fitness, rejoin the squad and get back on the pitch. The Blues also noted that Mudryk is expected to join the team during their pre‑season tour.
Mudryk expressed deep gratitude to everyone at Chelsea and said he is excited about the “next chapter” of his professional life.
The FA had kept the details of the case confidential under its anti‑doping programme until Friday’s announcement. It revealed that an out‑of‑competition test taken while Mudryk was on international duty with Ukraine in October 2024 returned an adverse finding for meldonium.
According to the FA, he was formally charged in June 2025 and received a four‑year suspension in January. The ban only became public in April after he appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The governing body said the sample contained a low concentration of meldonium, a prohibited cardiovascular medication that can boost respiratory capacity and stamina.
The FA also noted that the World Anti‑Doping Agency has updated its technical guidance on meldonium testing. While the changes are not retrospective, the FA stated that if Mudryk’s sample had been analysed under the current standards, the concentration would not have been reported and no adverse finding would have been recorded.
About the Author
