Mykhailo Mudryk ‘In Shock’ After Failed Drugs Test as Investigation Begins

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.