Dec 18, 2024, 01:19 PM
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Enzo Maresca has said that Chelsea believe Mykhailo Mudryk is innocent following his positive drugs test and will continue to "support" the player.
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Mudryk and Chelsea released statements on Tuesday confirming that the FA had been in contact over the Ukraine winger supplying an adverse urine sample, with both player and club expressing their surprise.
Chelsea head coach Maresca faced the media for the first time since that news on Wednesday and reaffirmed that Chelsea trust Mudryk, who is not training with the team while they await further test results.
"We are all upset, sad," Maresca said. "We are giving him general support. We trust Mykhailo, when these types of things happen you need to support your player in all the aspects. He is one of the players in my squad so it is my duty to be in contact with him, we are all there. The teammates, the clubs, me, we are all there.
"Trust means we believe Myka, we support him. We want to help him in anything he needs. It is normal that in this moment he needs help from the club and we are there to support."
Mykhailo Mudryk faces a ban from football if it is confirmed he has used a banned substance. Getty
Pressed on whether "trust" meant Chelsea feel Mudryk is innocent, Maresca nodded and replied: "We all believe [he is innocent]."
Reports in Ukraine on Tuesday suggest a prohibited substance was found in an "A" sample given at the end of October. Those same reports state the "B" sample has not yet been tested but will be in the coming days.
Confirmation that Mudryk has used a banned substance could trigger a lengthy ban from football. FIFA's guidelines state that the maximum ban for an anti-doping violation is four years.