Chelsea’s Mudryk Charged by FA Over Failed Doping Test

Chelsea and Ukraine international winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged by the Football Association (FA) with violating anti-doping rules after failing a drugs test. The 24-year-old could face a ban of up to four years if found guilty.

The FA confirmed the charge in a statement on Wednesday, stating: “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.”

Mudryk has been under a provisional suspension since December 2024, following an “adverse finding in a routine urine test.” He has not played for Chelsea since November 28 and has been unable to train with the first team during this period.

Under the World Anti-Doping Code, which FIFA’s rules follow, athletes found to have intentionally taken a prohibited substance can be suspended for up to four years.

When the provisional suspension was first announced in December, Mudryk expressed his “complete shock” and stated he had “never knowingly used any banned substances.” Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca also voiced his support at the time, saying, “We support Mykhailo and trust means that we believe Mykhailo.”

FA rules allow a player to request an analysis of their ‘B’ sample if an adverse finding is returned from the initial ‘A’ sample. A charge is typically brought if the ‘B’ sample confirms the initial result. Players can then either accept the finding and its consequences or contest the charge at a hearing.

Chelsea have not made a new comment on the charge but reiterated in December that they would work to establish the cause of the failed test. The club has been providing support for Mudryk’s mental wellbeing during his suspension. He attended Chelsea’s UEFA Conference League final victory last month in a private capacity.

Chelsea signed Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 in a deal worth up to £89 million. He has scored 10 goals in 73 appearances for the club and is under contract until 2031.