Mykhailo Mudryk: Chelsea winger cleared to play again with immediate effect after doping ban resolved
Mykhailo Mudryk has not played competitively since November 2024; Mudryk had received a four-year ban for failing drugs test but filed an appeal to CAS; Changes to WADA procedures mean that, had his failed test produced the same result now, charges would not be brought
Friday 31 July 2026 17:40, UK
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been cleared to return to play after his doping ban was resolved.
The 25-year-old has not played competitively since November 2024 after he was suspended for four years for failing a drug test, which revealed the presence of a low concentration of meldonium, a prohibited substance, two years ago.
Mudryk filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) while changes to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) procedures in the interim mean that had his failed test produced the same result now, charges would not have been brought.
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The FA said: "Changes have been made… which, while not retroactive, mean that if Mr Mudryk's sample was collected today, the concentration of meldonium in the sample would not have been reported and no anti-doping rule violations would have resulted.
"Further to that development and to other circumstances of the case, the FA and Mr Mudryk have now - with the agreement of WADA - resolved the appeal proceedings.
"As a part of the agreement, Mr Mudryk accepted that he had committed the ADRVs (Anti-Doping Rule Violations) charged and acceded to a period of ineligibility equal to the time served at the date of the agreement.
"Mr Mudryk is no longer ineligible and may return to competition with immediate effect."
The Blues signed Mudryk for £88m from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 and made 73 appearances, scoring nine goals, before his ban.
Chelsea welcomed the decision and said they will support his "reintegration into the squad" while "helping him resume his career".
A Chelsea statement said: "We welcome the acknowledgement that advances in the applicable scientific reporting standards for more reliable testing mean that, had Misha's sample been analysed under today's technical requirements, it would not have been reported as a positive test and no anti-doping rule violation would have resulted. That is an important part of the context surrounding the agreed resolution and allows everyone involved to move forward."
The Ukraine international also released a statement in which he said his two years away from football have "been the most difficult period of my career" and that he was "grateful" to be able to return.
Mudryk's charity shop work during ban - but will he play for Blues this season?
Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol:
Mudryk believed his sample, which tested positive for heart drug meldonium, was contaminated when he was on international duty with Ukraine in October 2024.
He tested positive during a period when Ukraine played in Albania and Georgia in November 2024 before then being provisionally suspended by the FA a month later.
Mudryk has always maintained his innocence and had been keeping fit by working with his own personal trainers away from Chelsea's Cobham training ground.
In fact, he was recently spotted working in a charity shop in London. Mudryk has not been allowed to train at Chelsea's Cobham training ground.
It now remains to be seen whether Mudryk will be part of Xabi Alonso's squad this season.
Chelsea have the option of sending him on loan to regain full match fitness.
