Mykhailo Mudryk faces four-year ban after FA doping charge

The forward has not played for the Blues since November.

Mykhailo Mudryk, a winger for Chelsea, could now be banned for up to four years after the Football Association (FA) accused him of breaking its anti-doping regulations after he failed a drug test.

An “adverse finding in a routine urine test” led to the 24-year-old Ukrainian international’s provisional suspension by the FA in December.

According to the rules set forth by FIFA, the organisation that oversees world football, players who are proven to have purposefully taken a prohibited substance may face a four-year ban.

He “never knowingly used any banned substances” and was in “complete shock” at the moment, according to Mudryk.

He hasn’t participated in a matchday squad since December 1st, and he hasn’t featured for Chelsea since November 28th. Chelsea are helping Mudryk with his mental health. Currently, he is also unable to practice with them.

He wasn’t with the team, but he did attend the Blues’ victory in the UEFA Conference League final in Poland last month in a private capacity.

FA confirms that Mykhailo Mudryk could face up to four years of ban

The FA said in a statement on Wednesday:

“We can confirm that Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged with anti-doping rule violations alleging the presence and/or use of a prohibited substance, in terms of regulations 3 and 4 of the FA’s anti-doping regulations. As this is an ongoing case, we are not in a position to comment further at this time.”

Chelsea have not responded, but in December, they stated that they would investigate the reason behind the test failure.

 “Mykhailo has confirmed categorically that he has never knowingly used any banned substances.”

In the case that an A urine test yields an unfavourable analytical result, players are entitled to request analysis of the B sample under FA regulations. Charges will be made if the analysis of the B sample supports the negative conclusion.

Players have two options: they either accept the decision and any repercussions that may follow, or they can ask for a hearing.

In January 2023, Chelsea paid up to £89 million to acquire Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk, and he has a contract with the team through June 2031. So far, Mudryk has made 73 appearances for the Blues in all competitions, scoring 10 goals.

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