Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk returns ‘adverse finding’ in drugs test | OneFootball

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been handed a provisional suspension by the Football Association after submitting a drugs test sample which contained a banned substance.

The Ukraine international has missed the past five fixtures for his club, with head coach Enzo Maresca suggesting illness was a factor, with Mudryk last playing on 28 November.

Reports in the Times say Mudryk is citing contamination as the reason for the substance appearing in his test and denies deliberately taking anything banned. The results of a B sample are being waited for but the player is being supported by Chelsea, who have begun their own investigation.

Additional reports in Ukraine name the substance in question, though this has not been verified by either the FA or Mudryk’s club. It is not available in the UK but appears on Wada’s list of banned substances.

A statement from the Blues read: “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.”

In his own statement via Instagram, Mudryk professed his innocence and “shock” at the situation and insisted he hoped to be “back on the pitch soon”.

On the pitch, Mudryk started the first game of the season for Maresca but has since fallen from favour, making only six further sub appearances in the Premier League and seeing most of his game time come in the Uefa Conference League. He has scored three times in that competition, but is without a goal or an assist in the top flight this term.

The winger signed an eight-year contract at Stamford Bridge when signing in 2023.