Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been provisionally suspended by the FA after he failed a drugs test.
The Blues have confirmed that an 'adverse reading' had been found in a routine urine sample. Chelsea will not be commenting further while the investigation is ongoing.
As for Mudryk, he has taken to social media to plead his innocence. "I can confirm that I have been notified that a sample I provided to The FA contained a banned substance," he wrote.
"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 this process, but I will as soon as I can." In light of that news, football.london has taken a closer look at three mysteries that remain unsolved surrounding his situation.
What has been found in Mykhailo Mudryk's sample?
Until the formal investigation is played out in public, it's unclear what has been found in Mudryk's sample. Now while it would be unfair to speculate what could have been discovered by the FA's tests, what was discovered could change the entire context of a potential ban.
Performance-enhancing drugs could lead to a stricter ban than, say, cannabis or recreational drugs. However, it must be stressed that, at this stage, we do not know what has been discovered.
How long will Mykahilo Mudryk be banned for?
This goes hand-in-hand with the first mystery as, without knowing entirely what 'adverse reading' was spotted in Mudryk's sample, it's unknown how long his potential ban could be. When Paul Pogba recently tested positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), he was initially banned for a whopping four years.
However, on appeal, that was reduced to 18 months. Pogba's now free to return to action in March 2025.
What is the reaction inside the Chelsea camp?
Recently, the atmosphere in the Chelsea dressing room has been positive, perhaps as positive as things has been for a number of years. Results on the pitch have pushed the Blues into an unexpected title race and Enzo Maresca will hope nothing derails that.
Something like this does have the capacity to derail a squad, as the players become naturally concerned for their teammate. But, on the flip side, it could rally the squad and galvanise them to 'do it for Mudryk'. Only time will tell but, with Chelsea back in action on Thursday night, we can expect to discover the answer to this shortly.
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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