Mykhailo Mudryk, the Chelsea winger, may be on the cusp of a significant career pivot following a charge by the Football Association for failing a doping test. The Ukrainian international faced provisional suspension last year after testing positive for meldonium, a prohibited performance-enhancing substance, and was formally charged this summer. Chelsea responded with a succinct club statement, saying: “We can confirm that Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged with Anti-Doping Rule Violations, pertaining to the presence and/or use of a banned substance, according to Regulations 3 and 4 of The FA’s Anti-Doping Regulations. As this matter is ongoing, we are unable to comment further at this time.”
Chelsea’s manager, Enzo Maresca, addressed Mudryk’s situation during a press conference ahead of the Club World Cup tie against Flamengo. Reflecting on his last meeting with Mudryk, Maresca remarked, “I last spoke to Mischa in Poland during our Conference League final against Real Betis. I’ve not been in contact since. I wasn’t aware of the news initially, but it’s been relayed to me. As long as Mischa remains a Chelsea player, he has my trust, which applies to every member of our squad. When we last spoke, he seemed in good spirits. Though we haven’t been in touch recently, we will surely be reaching out to him.”
With the potential of a four-year football ban looming, it’s understandable that Mudryk is exploring alternative avenues. Spanish news outlet Marca has reported that the 24-year-old is setting his sights on competing as a sprinter for Ukraine in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
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