Carlo Garganese
Mykhailo Mudryk, Chelsea, 2024/25
© IMAGO
Mykhailo Mudryk has angered Chelsea fans further after he flew to Saudi Arabia to watch Tyson Fury’s fight against Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday.
Mudryk hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons earlier this week when it was announced that he had failed a doping test and had been provisionally suspended by the FA.
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Many would have expected for Mudryk to stay out of the public eye for a while but he flew to Riyadh this weekend to watch the biggest event in sport this weekend.
He was spotted ringside watching his Ukrainian countryman Usyk's rematch victory against Tyson Fury.
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) December 21, 2024
Unsurprisingly this did not go down well with Chelsea fans, who were heavily critical on social media at his decision to attend the event.
Heavyweight champion of the world Usyk won the first fight against Fury in May, unifying all heavyweight title belts in the division.
Mudryk was present in Saudi Arabia to watch the rematch between the two heavyweights where he was naturally supporting his countryman Usyk.
Ukrainian Usyk won the rematch on a unaminous decision from the judges after a close fight.
Mudryk failed doping test
Mudryk tested positive in a drugs test administered while on international duty with Ukraine, with a banned substance found in the A sample.
The results of the B sample will be revealed in the coming days.
A statement from Chelsea on Tuesday read: "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."
Mudryk himself has denied knowingly taking any banned substance.
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“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 I 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."
If the results of the B sample confirm the positive outcome of the A sample, then Mudryk could face a ban of up to four years.
Mudryk last played for Chelsea on November 28 in a UEFA Conference League match against Heidenheim, with the Ukrainian scoring in a 2-0 win in Germany.
The last time he was named in a Chelsea match squad was on December 1 for the Premier League match against Aston Villa which the Blues won 3-0.
Since then, Mudryk was officially missing from Chelsea squads due to "illness".
Mudryk joined Chelsea for €100 million in January 2023 from Shakhtar Donetsk after the Blues hijacked Arsenal's deal for the winger.
Since joining Chelsea, Mudryk has managed just 10 goals and nine assists in 73 appearances amidst a string of poor performances.