Chelsea Winger Mykhailo Mudryk Charged by FA After Testing Positive for Banned Substance Meldonium
Chelsea FC’s Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk faces a potential lengthy ban after being charged by the English Football Association (FA) for an anti-doping violation.
The 24-year-old tested positive for *meldonium*, a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) since 2016, following a routine drug test after a Premier League match in May.
The FA confirmed the charge in a statement on Wednesday, revealing that Mudryk’s sample showed traces of the performance-enhancing drug, which is known to improve endurance. The player has been provisionally suspended pending a disciplinary hearing and could face a ban of up to four years if found guilty.
Mudryk, who joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023 for £88 million, denies intentionally taking the substance. His representatives claim the positive test resulted from a "contaminated supplement" and have vowed to appeal.
Chelsea FC released a brief statement acknowledging the charge but declined further comment, citing ongoing legal proceedings. The case has sent shockwaves through the football world, as meldonium was the same drug that led to tennis star Maria Sharapova’s suspension in 2016.
If suspended, Mudryk’s absence would deal a major blow to Chelsea’s upcoming season and Ukraine’s national team, for which he is a key player.
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