Mudryk handed a 4-year Doping Ban

The Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been officially charged by the FA for violating anti-doping regulations, following the confirmation of a positive test for meldonium, a substance that has had several athletes in hot water over the years. As things stand, the 24-year-old Ukrainian now faces the possibility of a four-year ban from football, a blow that could downplay a career that once held so much promise.

The story began to unfold late last year. In December 2024, Mudryk was provisionally suspended after testing positive for meldonium in an out-of-competition test conducted earlier in the season. It was a shock, both for Chelsea fans and for the player himself, especially considering the profile Mudryk had arrived with when the club splashed close to £97 million to sign him from Shakhtar Donetsk.

What does the Football Association say?

Now, with the B-sample confirming the original findings, the Football Association has taken the next step, charging Mudryk under anti-doping regulations. “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,” said an FA spokesperson. While some athletes in similar situations have gone quiet, Mudryk was quick to address the situation when the news broke in December. In a message posted to Instagram, the Ukrainian winger maintained that he’s innocent and insisted he had never knowingly taken any illegal substances.

“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.”

Legal Backing And Familiar Playbook

Interestingly, Mudryk isn’t doing this alone; he’s turning to a law firm with recent success in this field. He’s working closely with Morgan Sports Law, the same legal team that helped Paul Pogba get his own doping ban reduced from four years to just 18 months. That appeal was successful at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and while every case is different, Chelsea’s winger is hoping for a similar outcome.

Right now, Mudryk remains suspended and hasn’t featured in any competitive football since November 2024. He made only seven appearances in the Premier League during the 2024/25 season, though he did show flashes of promise in the UEFA Conference League, scoring three goals in six games.

Even so, the timing of this charge is brutal. Chelsea lifted the Conference League trophy in Poland after a win over Real Betis, but Mudryk wasn’t part of the celebrations. Though he traveled with the squad, reports suggest he didn’t join the post-match celebrations and didn’t even collect a winners’ medal. Meanwhile, Chelsea seems to be moving forward. His iconic No.10 shirt has already been reassigned to Cole Palmer; it’s a sign that may hint at how the club views his long-term future.

What Happens Next?

There’s still a long way to go before a final verdict is delivered. Mudryk will now have the opportunity to present his defense before a disciplinary panel. If his legal team can prove the ingestion was accidental or that the concentration of meldonium was too low to have provided any performance benefit, the punishment could be significantly reduced.

That’s exactly what happened with Pogba, whose legal team successfully argued for leniency based on circumstances. However, the FA has been firm on anti-doping standards in recent years, and unless a strong case is made, a full four-year ban remains a huge possibility.

For a young player like Mudryk, that would be a problem. Not only would it remove him from competitive football during his peak years, but it would also deal a blow to Chelsea, who were already under pressure for their investment in the winger following an underwhelming first 18 months at the club.

For now, Mykhailo Mudryk remains in football limbo. His career, once filled with such promise, is now on pause. And unless his legal defense can deliver a breakthrough, the next time fans see him on the pitch may be a long, long way off.