Mykhailo Mudryk is free to play football immediately after his doping case was resolved with the Football Association.
The Chelsea winger has not played a competitive match since November 2024 after being provisionally suspended after returning an ‘adverse finding’ for banned substance meldonium.
As a result of that, Mudryk was initially given a four-year ban by the FA. However, he appealed against that decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
And on Friday, it was announced that he is now free to resume his career after the FA said anti-doping disciplinary proceedings have now been resolved with Mudryk.
Mykhailo Mudryk statement
Following the news, the 25-year-old said he was ‘grateful’ and expressed his thanks to Chelsea too.
‘After a long battle, the four-year ban that was imposed on me has been rescinded and I am free to resume my career with immediate effect. I am grateful that this process has reached a conclusion, that I have been cleared to return to football and that I can now look ahead to my future.
‘This has been the most difficult period of my career. As I have always maintained from the outset of this case, I have never knowingly or intentionally taken any banned substance. My commitment to competing fairly and representing my club and country with professionalism and integrity has always been important to me.
‘I would like to thank my family and friends for their support and belief throughout this period. I also want to express my deep gratitude to everyone at Chelsea, my team-mates and the Chelsea supporters who have been with me throughout.
‘I would also like to thank my legal team and others who assisted for their tireless work on my case. My focus now is on returning to football, working hard every day, and making a positive contribution on the pitch. Thank you to everyone who continued to believe in me. I look forward to the next chapter of my career.’
Chelsea statement
Chelsea said they are looking forward to helping Mudyk “return to full fitness, back into the squad and back onto the pitch” and he will join the club’s pre-season tour.
‘Chelsea acknowledges today’s announcement by The Football Association confirming the resolution of the anti-doping proceedings involving Mykhailo Mudryk.
‘From the outset, this has been an extremely difficult period for Misha, both professionally and personally, and we are pleased that the matter has now reached a conclusion which allows him to return to football with immediate effect.
‘We have always supported Misha throughout this process while fully respecting the integrity of the anti-doping system and the legal process.
‘We welcome the acknowledgement that advances in the applicable scientific reporting standards for more reliable testing mean that, had Misha’s sample been analysed under today’s technical requirements, it would not have been reported as a positive test and no anti-doping rule violation would have resulted. That is an important part of the context surrounding the agreed resolution and allows everyone involved to move forward.
‘Misha has consistently maintained that he never knowingly or intentionally used a prohibited substance and did not know how traces of the substance entered his system. Throughout this process he has conducted himself professionally and with resilience during what has undoubtedly been one of the most challenging periods of his career.
‘We know how much this opportunity to return means to him. Our focus now is on supporting Misha’s reintegration into the squad and helping him resume his career.
‘Chelsea remains fully committed to the highest standards of sporting integrity and compliance with all anti-doping regulations.
‘Everyone at the club now looks forward to helping Misha return to full fitness, back into the squad and back onto the pitch.’
