Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk Charged with Anti-Doping Violation After Positive Drug Test

Mykhailo Mudryk, Chelsea and Ukraine international winger, has been formally charged by the Football Association (FA) for breaching anti-doping regulations, following a positive drug test from a urine sample collected in December 2024.

FA Charge and Potential Penalty

The FA, in a statement released on Wednesday, confirmed the charge, stating it pertains to “the presence and/or use of a banned substance” in violation of regulations three and four of its anti-doping rules. Mudryk has been under a temporary suspension since November 28, 2024.

If found guilty, the 23-year-old faces a ban of up to four years, a significant blow to both his career and Chelsea’s squad depth.

Mudryk's Reaction: ‘Complete Shock’

Mudryk, who joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 for a fee reportedly rising to £88.5 million, expressed shock and denial over the allegation.

“I have never knowingly used any banned substances,” the winger insisted in a statement. “This result is as much a shock to me as anyone.”

Reports Point to Meldonium

Though not confirmed by the FA, multiple sources suggest the substance in question is meldonium, a performance-enhancing drug previously at the center of several high-profile doping cases.

Chelsea have since conducted an internal investigation into the case, pending the results of the ‘B’ sample to either confirm or dispute the original finding.

A Shadow Over Mudryk’s Career at Chelsea

The charge comes amid growing uncertainty around Mudryk’s future at Stamford Bridge. Notably, the club reassigned his squad number for the upcoming season to Cole Palmer, leaving Mudryk without a jersey number.

His last involvement in a matchday squad was on December 1, 2024, as an unused substitute in a 3-0 victory against Aston Villa. Prior to that, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca attributed his absence to illness, before the doping matter became public.

Performance and Limited Impact

Since his high-profile arrival, Mudryk has struggled to live up to expectations. Across 73 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea, he has scored just 10 goals. Last season, he started only one Premier League match, a win against Wolves in August.

The positive test reportedly followed his return from international duty with Ukraine, adding a layer of complexity to the timeline of events.

Next Steps

The FA has withheld further comment while the case is under review. The outcome will hinge on the final results of the testing process and any subsequent disciplinary proceedings.

Mudryk’s situation adds to Chelsea’s off-field challenges as they head into the 2025/26 campaign under new management and with a restructured squad.