Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk has spoken out on Instagram.
Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk has spoken out on Instagram.
Chelsea's forward Mykhailo Mudryk, has expressed his 'complete shock' after being provisionally suspended by the Football Association (FA) following a positive drug test. The 23-year-old Ukrainian, who transferred to Chelsea from Shakthar Donetsk last year, hasn't played for Enzo Maresca's team since their UEFA Conference League victory over Bundesliga side Heidenheim at the end of November, missing the last five matches.
Mudryk has denied any wrongdoing, insisting that he has "never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules". Chelsea have confirmed an adverse finding in a routine urine sample from Mudryk but have refrained from further comment on the investigation, stating they support the FA's testing programme and will cooperate with the relevant authorities to determine the cause of the adverse finding.
"I can confirm that I have been notified that a sample I provided to The FA contained a banned substance," Mudryk wrote on Instagram. "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.
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I cannot say any more now due to the confidentiality of the process, but I will as soon as I can. ".
Chelsea are set to face Shamrock Rovers in their sixth Conference League match on Thursday, before heading to Merseyside for a Premier League clash against Everton. After securing five consecutive victories, Maresca's team is currently trailing league leaders Liverpool by just two points, reports Football.London.
Chelsea are seven points ahead of Manchester City in the Premier League title race. A club statement said: "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."