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Tom Hindle | Aug 01, 2026 06:33 +08:00
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk to return to Chelsea after doping ban case resolved
M. Mudryk | Chelsea | Premier League
Mykhailo Mudryk, Chelsea's mercurial winger, has been cleared to return to the club after his doping case was resolved. The Ukrainian forward was handed a four-year ban by the FA in June 2025, but following a successful appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the suspension has been lifted early. He will now join the club's preseason camp as they undergo a revamp under new manager Xabi Alonso.
Case resolved
Mudryk has not played since November 2024, when he tested positive for a concentration of meldonium, a drug known to enhance respiratory capacity. The FA handed him a maximum four-year ban six months later, leaving the Ukrainian sidelined until December 2028. However, he subsequently appealed the decision, maintaining that he had "never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules." While such appeals are typically not made public, the FA confirmed on Friday that he accepted responsibility for breaching anti-doping regulations—and is now free to return to play.
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Mudryk's statement
The player expressed his relief at having the ban lifted early, stating: "After a long battle, the four-year ban that was imposed on me has been rescinded, and I am free to resume my career with immediate effect.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."
Mudryk has been training alone after being banned from attending Chelsea's training ground and denied access to team facilities.
Chelsea voice their support
Chelsea, meanwhile, have consistently supported the player publicly, having handed him a remarkable nine-year contract in 2022. They issued a brief statement on Friday afternoon, expressing they were "pleased that the matter has now reached a conclusion which allows him to return to football with immediate effect."
Mudryk will join Chelsea's preseason tour of Australia and Asia.
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A comeback season?
This could be an intriguing year for Mudryk to rejoin the fold. Xabi Alonso has a bloated squad to work with, but after allowing the oft-maligned Alejandro Garnacho to leave for Aston Villa, there would seem to be space. Estevao's recurrent hamstring issues might also need watching closely as the Blues look to rebound from a tricky season.