Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk before a match
Mykhailo Mudryk could be banned for four years
Enzo Maresca has said Mykhailo Mudryk has the full support and trust of Chelsea following the news he has been suspended provisionally following a failed doping test.
The Ukraine international yesterday announced that he had been informed of an adverse finding in a routine urine test and was provisionally suspended by the Football Association pending the results of a B sample.
Should Mudryk be found to have knowingly taken a banned substance he faces a ban of up to four years. But he and Chelsea both said they he has "never knowingly" taken a prohibited supplement and was shocked to hear of his failed test.
And Maresca, whose team face Ireland's Shamrock Rovers in the UEFA Conference League at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night, said: "I think now the situation is a bit more clear in terms of we have a statement from the club and the club said what we need today. There’s nothing to add unless the club, coaching staff and people inside the training ground support and trust Misha.
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“We trust Misha. When these things happen you need to support your player in all aspects. Misha is a Chelsea player but he’s for sure involved in the squad so it’s my duty to be in contact with him. For me, the players, team-mates, we’re all here.
"We're all upset, sad. At the moment he can't train but the club is there to support him in all aspects."
Maresca confirmed that there is timeline around when Chelsea and Mudryk will learn of the findings from his 'B' sample that will confirm the initial findings. The Italian insisted he thinks Mudryk is innocent of any wrongdoing and insisted that even if the wide man is handed a long ban he can bounce back.
“I don’t think it’s the end [of his career at Chelsea]," Maresca added. "He’ll be back. We don’t know when, that’s the only doubt at this moment, but for sure he’ll be back.”
Mykhailo Mudryk has been missing from Chelsea training ( Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Mudryk, an £89m signing from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023, is under contract until the summer of 2031 and he has been earning close to £100,000-per-week while sitting on the sidelines. He was substituted at half-time in his only Premier League start under Maresca but has scored three goals in Europe before the suspension.
In a statement yesterday, Mudryk said: "I can confirm that I have been notified that a sample I provided to The FA contained a banned substance.
“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."
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