December 2024 marked a gloomy turning point in Mykhailo Mudryk's career, when he received a positive test result for meldonium, a substance on the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned list. The Ukrainian striker was finally officially charged by the Football Association of England (FA) with violating anti-doping regulations.
Mudryk's last match in Chelsea's colors took place in November 2024. Since then, the £88 million contract has almost disappeared from the pitch, despite his prolonged appeal efforts. According to current regulations, Mudryk faces the risk of being banned for up to 4 years.
After a long period of living privately, at the beginning of 2026, Mudryk suddenly posted a direct message to fans on his personal Instagram. He wrote: "Happy New Year to all fans. I want to thank you for your support. I read all the messages and appreciate everything. So please don't abandon me, because I have never abandoned myself. I hope to reunite with you soon".
Previously, Mudryk repeatedly affirmed his innocence. He once stated: "I have never intentionally used any banned substances or violated regulations. This is a complete shock to me.
Mudryk's stance received public support from Shakhtar Donetsk, the old team that sold him to Chelsea. Football director Darijo Srna declared: "When talking about Mudryk, we don't think about money but think about people. We know he is 100% innocent and he will prove it. We support him as a former player, a friend and a person.
These shares appear in the context that Chelsea is going through a period of instability after sacking coach Enzo Maresca. The search for a successor is still undecided, while the squad is constantly being disrupted. If there is a "miracle" for Mudryk to return, perhaps The Blues will have another option to look forward to in attack.
