Mykhailo Mudryk, a winger for Chelsea, has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport following a four-year ban imposed by the Football Association due to a doping offense. The appeal was confirmed by CAS on February 25. Neither the FA, Chelsea, nor Mudryk's legal team has commented on the matter. Mudryk was acquired by Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk for £88m in January 2023 and still has five years remaining on his contract.
The positive test result was for the banned substance meldonium, but Mudryk claims that his sample was contaminated while he was on international duty with Ukraine in October 2024. He was provisionally suspended by the FA in December 2024 after failing a drug test. Mudryk has maintained his innocence, stating that his failed drug test was 'a complete shock' and that he had 'not done anything wrong.' Chelsea initiated their own investigation shortly after the FA's began and stated that the then 23-year-old insisted he 'has never knowingly used any banned substances.' The Ukraine international last played and scored for Chelsea in a 2-0 win at Heidenheim in the Conference League on November 28, 2024.
Now, 16 months after his initial suspension, Mudryk continues to claim his innocence and has been training with personal trainers away from Chelsea's Cobham training ground. Chelsea will allow the process to unfold.
According to Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol, 'The only reason we know Mudryk has been banned by the Football Association is because CAS has confirmed he has appealed against it.' The FA, Chelsea, and Mudryk's lawyers have remained silent due to the confidential nature of the process. If Mudryk loses his appeal, he may be unable to play until the end of 2028, which would be a significant blow to both the player and Chelsea.