Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk suspended 'indefinitely' from football after positive drugs test

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been provisionally suspended from all forms of football following a positive drugs test.

Chelsea winger 'Mykhailo Mudryk.'

Getty Images Sport

The Ukraine international has not figured for the Blues since November 28 – when he scored in a Europa Conference League win over Heidenheim. His absence had been put down to illness, but it has now been revealed that he failed a doping test and is unavailable to head coach Enzo Maresca.

According to The Athletic, Mudryk tested positive for Meldonium, a medication typically used to treat heart conditions such as angina, after the November international break. Meldonium can assist with endurance and recovery for athletes.

A statement on the Blues’ official website reads: “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."

Mudryk has responded to the news by posting on social media: "I can confirm that I have been notified that a sample I provided to The FA contained a banned substance.

"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."

Mudryk joined Chelsea for £89 million ($113m) in January 2023, signing an eight-year contract, and has taken in 73 appearances for the club, scoring 10 goals. He maintains that his personal routine has not changed since passing a banned substance test in August.

FA regulations dictate that a player can be provisionally suspended after posting a positive test, as they are given an opportunity to explain themselves. Mudryk is now waiting on the results of a 'B' sample and continues to cooperate fully with all of the relevant parties involved in the case, as per The Times.