‘Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk faces 4-year ban after doping charge’
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is facing a major ban from football following a new update on his positive drugs test.
It has been a hugely frustrating period for the Ukraine international, who has not played any competitive football since December.
That came after Mudryk returned a positive drugs test leading to him being provisionally banned, ruling him out of action for Enzo Maresca’s side.
The winger has denied any wrongdoing, and Chelsea named him in their squad for the Europa Conference League for the second half of the season, although he did not feature in the competition.
Mykhailo Mudryk ban update emerges
While there has been little update on the action taken against Mudryk for several months as a B sample was tested.
According to a new update from The Telegraph, the FA have now confirmed that the Chelsea winger has been charged with doping offences.
It is noted that under rules set by the football’s governing body in England, that means the 24-year-old is now facing a four-year ban from the game.
Mudryk is reported to have returned a sample that contained traces of the banned substance meldonium, which can be used to enhance performance.
However, there may be some hope that the Chelsea winger can get that punishment reduced, as he is apparently working with Morgan Sports Law on this case.
The same firm previously managed to get a four-year doping ban against Paul Pogba reduced to 18 months on appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Chelsea winger will fear for his future at Stamford Bridge
Football Insider Verdict
At 24-years-old, there is still plenty of time for Mudryk to return to the game and play at a decent level for several years, even if he has to serve a full four-year ban.
Indeed, his contract at Stamford Bridge is not set to end until the summer of 2031, so in that sense he could still have a chance to return with the club.
Despite that, questions will be asked about whether this could spell the end for him at Chelsea if he is forced to serve a ban of any sort.
The Blues are clearly not a club who are afraid to make changes to their squad, so it is hard to imagine they would be willing to wait for Mudryk as they look to progress and claim more silverware.
Indeed, Chelsea are already being linked with Jamie Gittens at Borussia Dortmund, who would take over Mudryk’s spot on the left wing.
That would obviously make it harder for the Ukrainian to force his way back into the side whenever his ban ends, especially as he would need time to get back up to match sharpness after so long out.
With that in mind, while Mudryk will surely want to challenge this charge, he may also have his mind on other potential options elsewhere