By Okafor Joseph Afam
December 17, 2024

Chelsea winger Mykhaylo Mudryk has tested positive for a banned substance in a recent drugs test, sending shockwaves across the football community.

The 23-year-old Ukrainian star has been conspicuously absent from Chelsea’s matchday squads since November 28, when he played a full 90 minutes, scoring in a 2-0 Conference League victory over Heidenheim. Initially, the club cited illness as the reason behind Mudryk’s absence between December 4 and December 15.

However, according to a report by Zorya Londonsk, Mudryk was sidelined after being notified of a failed drugs test. The report claims the banned substance was detected in a sample collected at the end of October, with only the ‘A’ sample analyzed so far.

A ‘B’ sample is expected to be opened within the coming days to confirm the findings. Should the results corroborate the ‘A’ sample, Mudryk could face a significant suspension from football, pending an appeal.

In response to the developing situation, Chelsea released an official statement late on Monday night. The club confirmed they are aware of the matter and expressed their continued support for the FA’s anti-doping protocols.

The statement reads:

“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.”

Reports from the Daily Mail indicate that Mudryk believes a contaminated supplement may be to blame for the adverse result. It is understood that the winger passed a test in August without issue and insists his diet has remained unchanged since.

Sources close to the player also suggest Mudryk suspects the contamination may have occurred outside England, possibly due to the presence of substances unavailable within the UK.

For now, Chelsea fans and football observers will await the results of the ‘B’ sample and any subsequent actions by the Football Association. A suspension for Mudryk could have serious implications for both the player’s career and Chelsea’s season as they navigate a busy fixture schedule.

The story remains ongoing, with further updates expected as the investigation unfolds.