By KIERAN GILL and MIKE KEEGAN and SAMI MOKBEL and RYAN WALKER
Published: 09:20 EST, 17 December 2024 | Updated: 09:22 EST, 17 December 2024
The substance behind Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk's failed drugs test that has resulted in a provisional suspension being issued by the Football Association has been revealed.
Mudryk's playing future was thrust into uncertainty on Tuesday morning after he was notified of a positive drugs test by the FA that has seen him unavailable for selection due to a suspected adverse analytical finding.
Mail Sport can now reveal that the banned substance meldonium is believed to be behind Mudryk's failed test with reports in Ukraine understood to be correct.
The substance is the same drug that former Russian tennis star and multiple Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova previously used and a positive test resulted in her being banned for two years in 2016.
Sharapova had previously failed a drugs test at the Australian Open for using meldonium which is sold under the brand Mildronate and is a banned performance enhancing drug.
However, the Latvian scientist who invented the drug - Ivar Kalvins - has outlined that the drug was never to be used by athletes and was instead designed for 'Soviet super soldiers'.
The substance is the same drug that former Russian tennis star and multiple Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova was previously banned for
Mail Sport can now reveal that the banned substance meldonium is believed to be behind Mudryk's failed test with reports in Ukraine understood to be correct
'If the soldiers are to operate in the mountains, there’s a lack of oxygen. The way to protect against damage is by using Mildronate,' he once told WIRED.
Tons of the substance were previously exported to the Russian army with the scientist also revealing that there were 'very many who used it'.
Multiple Russian athletes have been banned from different sports throughout the years for using the substance, but it's creator argues against bans being imposed on athletes because of his belief that it violates their human rights.
Meanwhile, Mudryk is known to have undergone a test in August which was clear and insists he had not changed his behaviour since.
There is a belief that any potential contamination may have happened outside the country because meldonium is not available in UK with it being made in Latvia and is regarded as a 'metabolic modulator'.
Mudryk is still waiting on the result of a ‘B’ sample and whether or not it confirms the findings of his ‘A’ sample is yet to be seen. The player is thought to be co-operating with his club supportive of his explanation.
Chelsea shared a statement on Tuesday morning, writing: '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.'
Sharapova previously tested positive for the substance and was banned for two years
Mudryk showed off his frame on Instagram in a recent upload from a lift at his London home
The 23-year-old has featured heavily in Chelsea's Europa Conference League campaign
Tons of the meldonium substance were previously exported to the Russian army and used by soldiers
The player himself broke his silence shortly after the club's statement on social media, stating that the adverse finding had come as a 'complete shock'.
'I can confirm that I have been notified that a sample I provided to The FA contained a banned substance,' Mudryk posted 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.
WHAT IS MELDONIUM?
Meldonium is used to treat ischaemia: a lack of blood flow to parts of the body, particularly in cases of angina or heart disease. It is made in Latvia and only distributed in Baltic countries and Russia. It is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States and is not authorised in the rest of Europe.
'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 (blue heart emoji)'.
Mail Sport has been in contact with a specialist sports law firm acting for Mudryk since Friday and has been repeatedly told that the player has not been charged with a doping offence. They have again been contacted for comment.
Mudryk has started only one Premier League match this season, although he has been a regular in the Conference League. During his last appearance, at Germans Heidenheim, he scored in a 2-0 victory.
Mudryk is thought to be co-operating with Chelsea supportive of his explanation for the failed test
Mudryk was one of Europe's hottest properties when he arrived at Stamford Bridge from Shakhtar Donetsk early last year for a fee worth up to £88m
Since then, he was an unused substitute against Aston Villa, before being left out of the matchday squad for games against Southampton, Tottenham, Brentford and last week's Conference League trip to Kazakhstan to face Astana.
Mudryk has not been seen training at Cobham in the interim.
Talking to reporters before the 4-3 win over Spurs on December 6, Maresca said: 'The other one [to miss out] is still ill is Misha Mudryk and the rest are okay.' On December 15, Maresca told Chelsea’s website: ‘Carney (Chukwuemeka) after Astana was ill, Chilly (Ben Chilwell) was ill.
'Pedro (Neto) was suspended and then we had Reece (James) and Wes (Fofana) injured, and unfortunately during the session yesterday, Benoit (Badiashile) felt something, and Misha (Mudryk) is out too.’
The Blues head coach will next speak to reporters on Wednesday ahead of the club's Conference League clash with Shamrock Rovers on Thursday evening, with Chelsea hosting an open training on the same day at 3pm.
Mudryk was one of Europe's hottest properties when he arrived at Stamford Bridge from Shakhtar Donetsk early last year for a fee worth up to £88m, with Arsenal among those sought to have been in the hunt for his services.
Capped by his country, he penned an eight-year deal with his new club in what was a busy January transfer window. But of his 53 Premier League appearances, only 26 have come as a starter, with the player never truly nailing down a place in his manager's first team.
Despite a lack of league action this year, Mudryk has recorded a goal contribution in every league phase match in Europe, where he has scored three goals in as many games.