Mykhailo Mudryk, the Chelsea winger, is now eligible to return to competitive football immediately following the resolution of anti-doping disciplinary proceedings. The agreement was reached between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Football Association (FA) on 30 July 2026.
Both the FA and Chelsea confirmed on Friday that the disciplinary proceedings against Mudryk had concluded. As part of the resolution, Mr. Mudryk accepted that he had committed Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) and agreed to a period of ineligibility equivalent to the time he had already served.
Case background and resolution
The disciplinary process began after Mr. Mudryk underwent an out-of-competition doping control on 22 October 2024. This test revealed a low concentration of meldonium, a substance prohibited in sport. The FA informed Mr. Mudryk of this finding on 4 December 2024 and subsequently imposed a provisional suspension.
On 23 May 2025, the FA formally charged Mr. Mudryk with ADRVs, specifically breaching Regulations 3 and 4 of its 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, which is the English FA’s maximum penalty for doping.
Following this decision, Mr. Mudryk lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on February 25, 2026. The FA had not publicly disclosed their punishment of Mudryk before CAS confirmed the winger’s appeal.
A significant development in the case was the changes made to the WADA Technical Document (TD2027MRL). While these changes are not retroactive, they indicate that if Mr. Mudryk’s sample were collected today, the concentration of meldonium found would not have been reported as positive, and no ADRVs would have resulted.
Considering these changes and other circumstances of the case, the FA and Mr. Mudryk, with WADA’s agreement, resolved the appeal proceedings. This was done in accordance with Article 10.8.2 of the World Anti-Doping Code and Regulation 90 of the 2024 Anti-Doping Regulations. Consequently, Mr. Mudryk is no longer ineligible and can return to competition immediately.
Player and club statements
Mr. Mudryk, 25, expressed his gratitude on his Instagram account, stating that the four-year ban imposed on him had been rescinded, allowing him to resume his career. He maintained his innocence throughout the process, asserting that he had never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules. He thanked his family, friends, Chelsea FC, teammates, supporters, and legal team for their support during what he described as the most difficult period of his career. His focus is now on returning to football, working hard, and contributing positively on the pitch.
Chelsea also issued a statement, highlighting their continuous support for Misha throughout the process while respecting the integrity of the anti-doping system. The club welcomed the acknowledgment that advancements in scientific reporting standards mean that, under current technical requirements, Mr. Mudryk’s sample would not have been reported as a positive test. Chelsea noted that Mr. Mudryk consistently maintained he never knowingly or intentionally used a prohibited substance and did not know how traces of the substance entered his system. The club’s current focus is on supporting his reintegration into the squad.
Mr. Mudryk’s last appearance for Chelsea was in a 2-0 win over Heidenheim in the Conference League on November 28, 2024. He was an unused substitute against Aston Villa on December 1, 2024. His subsequent absences from matchday squads were attributed to illness by then-head coach Enzo Maresca. He was provisionally suspended by the FA on December 17, 2024, after an adverse finding in a routine urine sample.
Meldonium, a heart disease medication, was added to WADA’s monitoring program in 2015 and to the list of prohibited substances in 2016. In sport, it is understood to potentially aid athlete recovery and improve endurance. Mr. Mudryk joined Chelsea in January 2023 from Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk in a deal worth €70million, with an additional €30m in potential bonuses, and signed a contract until 2031.
The FA confirmed 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.
Source: thefa.com