Mykhailo Mudryk, 25, free to play for Chelsea again after almost two years as drugs ban decision is made

MYKHAILO MUDRYK has been cleared to return to football after nearly two years of doping hell. The £80million Chelsea winger has been suspended since December 2024 after meldonium, a prohibited substance, was discovered in a sample provided while on international duty with Ukraine. Mykhailo Mudryk is free to play for Chelsea again after his drug ban Credit: AP:Associated Press Mudryk was banned from playing for Chelsea for almost two years Credit: Getty Images – Getty Mudryk, 25, was handed a four-year ban, which he has successfully appealed. The Ukraine international is now free to play for the Blues once more. The winger is due to join Xabi Alonso‘s squad on tour in Hong Kong next week. Sign up for the Chelsea newsletter Thank you! He described the ordeal as the most difficult period of his career. Mudryk said: “After a long battle, the four-year ban that was imposed on me has been rescinded and I am free to resume my career with immediate effect.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. Most read in Football “I also want to express my deep gratitude to everyone at Chelsea FC, my teammates 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.” Meldonium was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) prohibited list in 2016 as it increases endurance, reduces fatigue and shortens recovery times. During his ban, Mudryk has been training alone to maintain fitness, using pitches at Uxbridge FC and was spotted attending Wimbledon this year. Changes to doping testing processes mean that were Mudryk’s sample to be tested today, it would not have been reported as a breach. WADA labs use a testing method by which concentration levels are estimated rather than measured, which has resulted in the reporting threshold being rased. Mudryk always maintained he did never knowingly or intentionally use meldonium, but accepted he had breached anti-doping rules. The amount of meldonium in the sample was low, meaning it could have come from an accidental contamination. The exact source of contamination has never been identified. In a statement, the FA said: “The FA can confirm that the anti-doping disciplinary proceedings against Mykhailo Mudryk were resolved with the agreement of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on 30 July 2026. “In the context of that agreement, Mr Mudryk has accepted his commission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) and accepted a period of ineligibility. “On 7 to 9 January 2026, a hearing took place before an independent Regulatory Commission. “The Regulatory Commission found that Mr Mudryk had committed the charged ADRVs and imposed a four-year period of ineligibility. “Subsequently, Mr Mudryk filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport. “Since then, changes have been made to WADA Technical Document (TD2027MRL) 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 ADRVs would have resulted. “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 in accordance with Article 10.8.2 of the World Anti-Doping Code and Regulation 90 of the 2024 Anti-Doping Regulations. “As a part of the agreement, Mr Mudryk accepted that he had committed the Anti-Doping Rule Violations 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.” A Chelsea statement read: “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. ‘Always supported Mudryk’ “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 FC 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.” Signed from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023, the winger has ten goals in 73 Chelsea appearances and is under contract until 2031. His last appearance for the club came against Arsenal in November 2024. Comment now