Mykhailo Mudryk is facing a ban of up to four years after allegedly failing a doping test, according to reports in Ukraine.
The Chelsea winger, 23, has not played for the Blues since scoring in the Europa Conference League match against Heidenheim and was last included in a match-day squad right at the start of this month against Aston Villa.
And reports in his native Ukraine claim that the reason behind his absence is a failed doping test. It’s claimed that a second sample has since been requested, the result of which has yet to be determined. The supposed banned substance has not been disclosed.
Mudryk could potentially be banned for up to four years for doping, if his B sample also returns a positive reading, meaning the Chelsea star may be absent from the pitch for a significant period of time.
The Mail claim that Mudryk has been provisionally suspended by The Football Association after returning a positive test, though the FA have refused to comment.
Further reports in Mudryk’s native Ukraine claim the positive sample showed traces of meldonium: the substance that former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova was banned for back in 2016.
Mudryk has endured his fair share of issues since joining the Blues from Shakhtar Donetsk back in January 2023 in a big-money deal which could eventually reach £89million.
Chelsea’s Premier League rivals, Arsenal, were also interested in the Ukraine star, who was said to have favoured a move to The Emirates and was left ‘devastated’ when it failed to materialise.
The player has since struggled to live up to his huge price tag at Stamford Bridge, failing to nail down a regular starting spot under a string of managers.
