Mudryk Suspended By FA After Failing Drugs Test

It is alleged that the Ukraine international tested positive for the prohibited substance meldonium.

The news is a bitter blow to Mudryk, who has struggled to justify the £89m price Chelsea paid to sign him from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023.

Mudryk is yet to play for Chelsea this month but has made 15 appearances this season, scoring three goals and providing three assists.

The 23-year-old says he is shocked at the news and is determined to prove his innocence.

A Chelsea statement 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."

Mudryk, in his own statement, added: "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."