English football's most memorable bans as Chelsea winger Mudryk cleared to play | OneFootball

Mykhailo Mudryk has been cleared to return to football after the Chelsea winger's doping ban was resolved.

Mudryk has not featured since being suspended in November 2024 for a failed drugs test, after a low concentration of the prohibited substance, meldonium, was found in his sample.

The 25-year-old hasnow been cleared to return, following an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Changes to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) procedures in the interim mean that Mudryk would not have faced charges, had his failed test produced the same result now.

The Ukrainian is now set to return for Chelsea after a long absence, though he's not the first high-profile name to return from a lengthy suspension. We've revisited some of English football's most notorious bans and how those footballers fared upon their return.

Eric Cantona - 9 months

Perhaps the most infamous ban in English football history.Eric Cantona was suspended for nine months after attacking a Crystal Palace fan at Selhurst Park. The 1995 incident saw the Frenchman fly over the advertising hoardings and kung-fu kick Matthew Simmons, who had taunted the Manchester United forward, following his red card in the clash.

Cantona was ordered to complete 120 hours of community service alongside his ban, which contributed to Manchester United missing out on the title to Blackburn Rovers.

He returned the following season in October, and ended the campaign as United's leading scorer with 19 goals. That return included the decisive goal in the 1996 FA Cup final win over Liverpool, as Sir Alex Ferguson's side won a domestic double.

Paolo Di Canio - 11 games

Another infamous incident, Paolo Di Canio received a mammoth 11-game ban for pushing over referee Paul Alcock in 1998. The enigmatic Italian shoved the official in frustration, after being sent off for Sheffield Wednesday against Arsenal.

Alcock's theatrical tumble remains etched into thePremier League memory archive, and ended Di Canio's time in Sheffield. He was sold to West Ham United without playing again, and went on to become a club icon at Upton Park.

Adrian Mutu - 7 months

One of the first big-money signings of the Roman Abramovich era at Chelsea, the Blues spent £15.8m to sign Mutu from Fiorentina in 2003. Mutu started well in West London, scoring four times in his first three games and ended his debut season with 10 in all competitions.

However, in September 2004 he was banned for nine months after testing positive for cocaine. He was sacked by Chelsea, and later ordered to pay the club a record 17m Euros (£14.3m) in compensation after losing his final appeal in a legal battle which has lasted more than five years.

Rio Ferdinand - 8 months

Rio Ferdinand was banned from football for eight months in January 2004 after he missed a drug test. The suspension meant the centre-back missed Euro 2004 with England, and was sanctioned despite no failed test.

A tribunal deemed Ferdinand guilty of misconduct for missing the test, having been selected by doping officials at Manchester United's training ground.

Sandro Tonali - 10 months

Newcastle were rocked when record signingSandro Tonali was hit with a 10-month ban during his debut season at the club.

A £55m recruit from AC Milan, the suspension was enforced by the Italian Prosecutor's Office and the Italian Football Federation for alleged illegal betting activity. He was forced to spend eight months in a rehabilitation programme and admitted to possessing a gambling addiction. The midfielder missed almost his entire first full season in thePremier League and Euro 2024.

Ivan Toney - 8 months

Another gambling-related ban,Ivan Toney was handed an eight-month ban in May 2023 after being accused of 232 breaches of betting rules.

Toney returned to action in January 2024, and scored four times in 17 appearances across the remainder of the campaign. He left that summer for Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in a £40m deal.