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Mykhailo Mudryk charged by FA over doping

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged by the Football Association with doping offences and faces a lengthy ban.

The Ukrainian forward could be suspended for as long as four years under FA rules after providing a positive ‘A’ sample – believed to contain the prohibited performance-enhancing substance meldonium – last year.

Mudryk was provisionally suspended while he and Chelsea waited for the results of a B sample, and the FA have now confirmed that he has been charged.

An FA spokesperson told Telegraph Sport: “We can confirm that Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged with anti-doping rule violations alleging the presence and/or use of a prohibited substance, in terms of regulations 3 and 4 of the FA’s anti-doping regulations. As this is an ongoing case, we are not in a position to comment further at this time.”

Mudryk hired Morgan Sports Law to work on his case, with Chelsea also providing support.

The firm also represented former Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba in his appeal against a four-year doping ban which the Court of Arbitration for Sport later reduced to 18 months.

Pogba terminated his contract at Juventus and is looking for a new club after his 18-month ban ended in March.

Mudryk denied knowingly breaking any rules. It was claimed that the Ukraine international tested negatively in August last year and insisted he had not changed any of his behaviour since then.

In a statement posted on Instagram in December last year, 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.”

Mudryk has not played for Chelsea since November last year and, under the rules of his provisional suspension, has not been able to train at the club’s Cobham base or with his team-mates.

The 24-year-old travelled on his own to watch the club compete in the final of the Europa Conference League and saw his No 10 shirt given to Cole Palmer this summer.

Chelsea and Morgan Sports Law have been approached for comment.

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