On the evening of December 17, the Premier League announced that Mykhailo Mudryk had tested positive for a banned substance after being tested for urine. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian striker still affirmed that he did not use any illegal substances. The €100 million star said on social media that he is still actively working with the parties to reach a final conclusion.
According to The Athletic, some sources revealed that Mudryk tested positive for meldonium in November, after returning from the national team at the FIFA Days. Meldonium was the substance that caused "tense queen" Maria Sharapova to face the biggest scandal of her career and had to stop playing for a while.
As for Chelsea, the London team issued a statement almost immediately after the results were announced. The Blues said they fully support this conclusion from the FA and the Premier League. In addition, the team will actively work with Mudryk to find the most accurate conclusion soon. For now, the 23-year-old striker has been temporarily suspended from competition.
FA regulations are very clear, any violation will be handled very strictly. If a banned substance is detected, it is meaningless for the player to prove that he accidentally or intentionally used it. The fact that the player is accused of intentionally or unintentionally using a banned substance is of no value in this case.
If the FA determines that he has used it and all tests reach a consensus, the heaviest ban for the offending player can be up to 4 years. In some cases, the penalty can be reduced to 2 years, or even just 1 month depending on the level of behavior and the nature of the incident.
Mudryk has not played for Chelsea since the win over Heidenheim in the UEFA Conference League on November 28. At the time, to explain this, captain Enzo Maresca said the Ukrainian striker was ill. Looking further, since joining Chelsea in January 2023, Mudryk has only started 40 matches in all competitions, including 26 in the Premier League. In addition, he has appeared on the bench 33 times.
Mudryk was a big disappointment before Maresca arrived. Under the new Italian captain, the 23-year-old striker has had 3 goals and 5 assists since the beginning of the season despite playing very little time in the Premier League (146 minutes).
If this penalty is imposed, it could take away Mudryk's entire future and career. After a difficult time, he has now escaped the useless label at Stamford Bridge. Mudryk is the first backup option for Jadon Sancho on the left wing. Under Maresca, every time he enters the field, he shows his usefulness. Since the beginning of the season, Mudryk has played 7 times in the Premier League and all as a substitute.
Although Chelsea have many players, in the left wing position alone, without Mudryk, Maresca will have a hard time rotating players.
