Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is at the center of a doping scandal after being formally charged by the Football Association. The Ukraine international could face a ban of up to four years following a positive test for meldonium, a performance-enhancing drug.
Mudryk was provisionally suspended in December 2024 after an ‘A’ sample tested positive. At the time, he expressed disbelief and denied any wrongdoing, claiming he was shocked and unaware of taking any banned substances.
The FA has now escalated the case by officially charging the 23-year-old under Anti-Doping Regulations 3 and 4, which cover the presence and use of prohibited substances. Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, the FA has withheld further public comment.
In the wake of the scandal, Mudryk has not featured for Chelsea since a Europa Conference League win over Heidenheim in late November, where he scored. Earlier this month, he was stripped of the No. 10 shirt, which was handed to Cole Palmer.
Although Chelsea have not released a public statement, it’s understood that Mudryk has retained Morgan Sports Law to represent him— the same legal team that helped reduce Paul Pogba’s doping ban from four years to 18 months.
The winger was seen in Poland last month watching Chelsea’s Conference League final against Real Betis, a visit his manager Enzo Maresca reportedly knew nothing about.
This is not the first time meldonium has been linked to high-profile doping cases. Tennis icon Maria Sharapova served a 15-month suspension after initially receiving a two-year ban for its use. Paul Pogba also tested positive for testosterone and was handed a four-year ban that was later reduced on appeal.
While Mudryk maintains his innocence, the FA’s case continues to unfold, and the consequences could be career-altering for the £89 million signing.