Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk and the club have both released official statements after it emerged that the highly-rated Ukraine international had failed a drugs test
It has been confirmed that Mykhailo Mudryk has tested positive for a banned substance following statements from both the player and Chelsea.
Reports from Mudryk’s native Ukraine overnight claimed that the 23-year-old had failed a doping test and was facing a ban of up to four years, with Chelsea then releasing a statement on Tuesday morning.
The Blues said: “Chelsea Football Club can confirm the Football Association recently contacted our player Mykhailo Mudryk concerning an adverse finding in a routine urine test.
“Both the Club and Mykhailo fully support The FA’s testing programme and all our players, including Mykhailo, are regularly tested. Mykhailo has confirmed categorically that he has never knowingly used any banned substances. Both Mykhailo and the Club will now work with the relevant authorities to establish what has caused the adverse finding.
“The Club will not be commenting any further.”
Fresh details of Mudryk’s situation has now emerged. Mirror Football understands the issue occurred while he was out of the country on international duty back in November and Chelsea sources insist it did not happen on their watch.
Mudryk is believed to have tested positive for meldonium: the very same substance that former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova was banned for back in 2016. For athletes, meldonium can aid endurance and recovery from exercise. It is not available in western Europe and Chelsea are trying to figure out how Mudryk came into contact with the substance.
Sharapova was banned for 24 months, although this was later reduced to 15 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport following an appeal.
Mudryk has not featured for Chelsea since scoring in the Europa Conference League last month and has not appeared in a matchday squad since the fixture against Aston Villa at the start of the December.
The player issued a statement himself insisting that he “never knowingly” used a banned substance. A post on Instagram read: “I can confirm that I have been notified that a sample I provided to The FA contained a banned substance.
“This has come as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules, and am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened.
“I know that I have not done anything wrong and remain hopeful that I will be back on the pitch soon. I cannot say any more now due to the confidentiality of the process, but I will as soon as I can.”
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