Chelsea winger, Mykhailo Mudryk, has been given the green light to resume his football career after the Football Association and the World Anti-Doping Agency reached an agreement to resolve his appeal over a doping suspension.
The Ukrainian international had been handed a four-year ban after testing positive for a low concentration of meldonium, a prohibited substance, in a drug test conducted in 2024.
Mudryk challenged the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. During the appeal process, WADA revised its procedures regarding meldonium, with the changes indicating that a sample containing the same concentration today would no longer trigger disciplinary action.
“Changes have been made, which, while not retroactive, mean that if Mr Mudryk’s sample was collected today, the concentration of meldonium in the sample would not have been reported and no anti-doping rule violations would have resulted,” the FA said in a statement.
“Further to that development and to other circumstances of the case, the FA and Mr Mudryk have now, with the agreement of WADA – resolved the appeal proceedings.
“As a part of the agreement, Mr Mudryk accepted that he had committed the ADRVs charged and acceded to a period of ineligibility equal to the time served at the date of the agreement.
“Mr Mudryk is no longer ineligible and may return to competition with immediate effect.”
The 25-year-old, who has not featured in a competitive match since November 2024, joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023 in a deal worth £62 million.
Although he struggled to establish himself before serving the suspension, Mudryk now has the opportunity to revive his Chelsea career under new head coach Xabi Alonso.
Chelsea also welcomed the conclusion of the case, expressing support for the winger as he prepares to return to action.
“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,” Chelsea said in a statement.
“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.”
