Mykhailo Mudryk provided a positive sample believed to contain the banned performance-enhancing substance meldonium
Mykhailo Mudryk provided a positive sample believed to contain the banned performance-enhancing substance meldonium
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Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged by the Football Association for doping offences with the player now facing a lengthy ban.
Under FA rules, Mudryk could be banned for as long as four years after providing a positive ‘A’ sample – believed to contain the banned 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: “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.”
A positive doping test carries the potential punishment of a four-year ban, under FA rules, and Mudryk hired Morgan Sports Law to work on his case with Chelsea also providing support.
Morgan Sports Law also represented former Juventus star 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 is understood that the Ukraine international tested negatively in August and insists he has 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.”