Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk cleared to return to action after doping case resolution
Mykhailo Mudryk, the Chelsea winger, is now eligible to return to competitive football immediately following the resolution of anti-doping disciplinary proceedings. An agreement was reached between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Football Association (FA) on 30 July 2026, concluding a period of ineligibility for the player.
The proceedings stemmed from an out-of-competition doping control conducted on 22 October 2024, which detected a low concentration of meldonium, a prohibited substance. The FA notified Mr Mudryk of this finding on 4 December 2024 and subsequently imposed a provisional suspension. Formal charges of Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) were brought against him on 23 May 2025, citing breaches of Regulations 3 and 4 of the 2024 Anti-Doping Regulations.
A hearing before an independent Regulatory Commission took place from 7 to 9 January 2026. The Commission determined that Mr Mudryk had committed the charged ADRVs and imposed a four-year period of ineligibility. Following this decision, Mr Mudryk lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on 25 February 2026.
Resolution and WADA revisions
The resolution of the case comes after changes were made to the WADA Technical Document (TD2027MRL). These revisions, while not retroactive, indicate that if Mr Mudryk’s sample were collected today, the concentration of meldonium found would not have been reported as a positive result, and no ADRVs would have occurred. This development, along with other circumstances of the case, led to the agreement between the FA and Mr Mudryk, with WADA’s consent.
As part of the agreement, Mr Mudryk accepted that he had committed the ADRVs and acceded to a period of ineligibility equivalent to the time he had already served. This means he is no longer ineligible and can resume his football career immediately. The FA confirmed this outcome in a statement on Friday, 31 July 2026.
Chelsea also released a statement, expressing their satisfaction with the conclusion of the matter. The club highlighted the difficulty of the period for Mr Mudryk, both professionally and personally, and welcomed his immediate return to football. They also acknowledged that current scientific reporting standards would not have resulted in a positive test for the substance found in his sample.
Mr Mudryk, who is 25, has not played for Chelsea since November 2024. His last appearance for the club was in a 2-0 win against Heidenheim in the Conference League on November 28, 2024. He was an unused substitute in a match against Aston Villa on December 1 of the same year. Subsequent absences from matchday squads were initially attributed to illness by then-head coach Enzo Maresca, before his provisional suspension was announced on December 17.
Player and club statements
In a statement posted on his Instagram account, Mr Mudryk expressed gratitude that the process had concluded and that he was cleared to return. He described the period as the most challenging of his career and reiterated his stance that he had never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules. He thanked his family, friends, Chelsea FC, teammates, supporters, and his legal team for their support.
Chelsea stated their consistent support for Misha throughout the process, while respecting the anti-doping system’s integrity. They noted the acknowledgement that advancements in scientific reporting standards mean his sample would not have been reported as positive under today’s technical requirements. The club emphasized that Mr Mudryk has always maintained his innocence regarding intentional use of a prohibited substance and conducted himself professionally during this challenging time. Their focus is now on supporting his reintegration into the squad.
Meldonium, a heart disease medication, was added to WADA’s monitoring program in 2015 and became a prohibited substance in 2016 due to its potential to aid athlete recovery and improve endurance. Mr Mudryk joined Chelsea in January 2023 from Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk in a deal valued at €70million, with an additional €30m in potential bonuses, signing a contract until 2031.
With his return, Mr Mudryk is expected to join the squad for the pre-season tour of Asia and Australasia, allowing head coach Xabi Alonso to assess how he fits into the team’s plans for the upcoming season.
Source: thefa.com