The Football Association has contacted Mykhailo Mudryk following an unfavorable drug test result, Chelsea announced on Tuesday.
In an official statement about the 23-year-old Ukrainian winger, the Premier League club said: “Chelsea Football Club can confirm that the Football Association recently contacted our player Mykhailo Mudryk regarding an unfavorable result of a routine urine test.
“Both the club and Mykhailo fully support the FA testing program and all our players, including Mykhailo, are tested regularly. Mykhailo categorically confirmed that he had never knowingly taken any banned substances. Both Mykhailo and the club will now work with the relevant authorities to establish what caused the unfavorable result.”
READ | Foden says City’s players still have faith in Guardiola despite poor form
Mudryk also released a statement on his social media account. “I can confirm that I have been notified that the sample I provided to the FA contained a banned substance,” he said.
“This came as a complete shock to me as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules and I am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened.
I know I didn’t do anything wrong and I hope to be back on the pitch soon. I cannot say more now due to the confidentiality of the process, but I will do so as soon as possible.
The UK anti-doping website (UKAD) warns athletes that they could face a four-year ban if the banned substance is found to have been taken intentionally.
If the violation involved a specific substance or contaminated product and the athlete can demonstrate that he or she was not materially at fault, the penalty of disqualification may range from two years to a reprimand, depending on the level of fault.
Mudryk joined Chelsea for £88.5 million ($112 million) from Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023. He has appeared in 15 games for Chelsea this season, including seven Premier League games.
(with support from Reuters)
