Chelsea's Mudryk Faces Doping Controversy After “Adverse Finding” Revealed in Routine Drug Test
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has found himself at the center of a doping controversy after the Football Association (FA) recently informed both the club and the player that a routine urine test that revealed an "adverse finding."
Mudryk has expressed his disbelief and firmly denied knowingly taking any banned substances. “This has come as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules," Mudryk wrote on Instagram. "I 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.”
Chelsea confirmed the FA's findings in a statement, emphasizing their support for the testing program and the player. The club stated they are cooperating with the relevant authorities to determine the cause of the test result but declined to comment further. Their full statement can be read here.
The specific substance detected in Mudryk's test has not been disclosed, and it is unclear whether the Ukrainian international has been officially suspended, although reports suggest he may have been provisionally suspended by the FA pending further investigation. This development comes as a setback for the 23-year-old, who last appeared for Chelsea on November 28th and has missed the past five matches across all competitions.
His absence from recent matches was initially attributed to illness by Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, who included him in the squad for their December 1 win over Aston Villa but did not bring him onto the pitch. The timing of the doping revelation has raised questions about whether the reported illness was related to the ongoing investigation.
Mudryk joined Chelsea in January 2023 from Shakhtar Donetsk in a high-profile transfer worth up to £89 million, making him the most expensive Ukrainian player in history. Despite his price tag, the winger has faced challenges adapting to the Premier League, scoring just five goals in 53 league appearances.
The FA's investigation is ongoing, and Mudryk remains under scrutiny as all parties work to uncover the source of the adverse finding. For now, both the player and the club have pledged to cooperate fully while Mudryk maintains his innocence.
With no clear timeline for resolution, Chelsea and their supporters are left waiting to see how this situation unfolds.
