Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has expressed his disbelief after testing positive for a banned substance during a routine drugs test. The Ukraine international has been provisionally suspended by the Football Association (FA) while investigations are underway, though the player strongly denies any wrongdoing.

Mudryk, who joined Chelsea in January 2023 from Shakhtar Donetsk in a deal worth up to £89 million, shared his reaction on social media, stating:

“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.”

Chelsea confirmed they had been contacted by the FA regarding “an adverse finding” in Mudryk’s urine test and are working to determine the cause behind the positive result.

The 23-year-old last appeared for Chelsea on 28 November and has missed the Blues’ last five matches in all competitions. Head coach Enzo Maresca previously attributed Mudryk’s absence to illness, particularly when the winger was included but did not feature in the squad for Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa on 1 December.

Under FA and FIFA guidelines, players who intentionally take banned substances can face suspensions of up to four years. However, the circumstances surrounding Mudryk’s case are yet to be fully clarified.

The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) is expected to offer support to Mudryk as the investigation progresses. The FA, meanwhile, has refused to comment on further details, including the timing of the test or specific substance involved.

Mudryk’s performance since his high-profile transfer has seen him contribute 10 goals across 73 appearances.

Real Madrid and Brazil star Vinicius Jr has been crowned the FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year at the prestigious ceremony in Doha, Qatar. The 24-year-old winger’s stellar performances during Real Madrid’s Champions League and La Liga-winning 2023-24 campaign earned him the accolade, marking his first-ever FIFA Best award.

Vinicius contributed significantly to his club’s success, scoring 24 goals and providing 11 assists, solidifying his status as one of the world’s top football talents. His win comes months after Real Madrid and Vinicius boycotted the Ballon d’Or ceremony, where Manchester City’s Rodri claimed top honors.

“It seemed impossible when I played barefoot in the streets of São Gonçalo, and now I’m here,” Vinicius reflected emotionally while accepting the award.

In the women’s category, Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati won the FIFA Best Women’s Player award for the second consecutive year. Her victory highlights her dominant role in both club and international football.

The FIFA Best Awards are decided through a combination of votes from the public, journalists, and national team captains and managers, with each group’s votes carrying equal weight.

Spain’s Rodri, a key figure in his nation’s Euro 2024 victory, finished second behind Vinicius, while England and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham secured third place.

• England captain Harry Kane voted for Rodri, Bellingham, and Vinicius, respectively.
• Interim England manager Lee Carsley prioritized Bellingham, Rodri, and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.
• Brazil’s captain and coach both supported Vinicius.
• Notably, Spain’s representatives voted for Dani Carvajal, Vinicius’ Real Madrid teammate.

Vinicius’ triumph coincides with Real Madrid’s presence in Qatar ahead of Wednesday’s FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against Mexican club Pachuca at Lusail Stadium.

Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman has been named the 2024 African Footballer of the Year, while Zambia’s Barbra Banda made history by claiming the women’s prize at the Confederation of African Football (Caf) Awards in Marrakesh.

Lookman, the Atalanta forward, triumphed over stiff competition, including Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams. This marks the second consecutive year a Nigerian player has won the prestigious award, following Victor Osimhen’s victory in 2023.

Barbra Banda, striker for Orlando Pride, became the first Zambian to win the women’s accolade, surpassing Morocco’s Sanaa Mssoudy and Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie.

Lookman’s outstanding performances during the 2023-24 season secured his position as a standout player. He played a pivotal role in Atalanta’s historic first European trophy win, scoring a remarkable hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen. This achievement made him the sixth player to score a treble in a European club final and the first since 1975.

On the international stage, Lookman shone at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, earning a spot in the Team of the Tournament. He scored three goals to help the Super Eagles reach the final, where they finished as runners-up to the host nation.

Lookman’s achievements also earned him a place on the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or shortlist, where he ranked 14th—the only African player on the list.

Barbra Banda’s recognition highlights her remarkable contributions to women’s football. Her win reflects the growing prominence of Zambian players on the global stage.

The Caf Awards winners are selected by a panel of experts, including members of Caf’s technical committee, African media professionals, players, and coaches.