FA suspends Chelsea’s Mudryk after failing drugs test

Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk has been provisionally suspended by the Football Association (FA) after failing a drugs test.

Mudryk, who faces a potential ban of up to four years under FA rules, said in a statement this is “a complete shock” and he has “not done anything wrong”.

Chelsea, in a statement on Tuesday, said they have launched their investigation, adding that the 23-year-old player insists he “has never knowingly used any banned substances”.

Mudryk, who passed a routine drugs test in August, has not been in the Chelsea squad for the last four games, with head coach Enzo Maresca putting his absence down to illness.

The Ukraine winger, signed from Shakhtar Donetsk for £88.5 million in January 2023, last played for Chelsea in a 2-0 win at German side Heidenhem in the Conference League on November 28.

Mudryk, with three goals in 15 games this season, most recently appeared on the bench for Chelsea as an unused substitute on December 1 in a 3-0 win over Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge.

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FA rules dictate a player is informed of a positive test and provisionally suspended before a decision is taken on a formal charge. Mudryk has the opportunity during this period to provide an explanation for the result, Sky Sports reported.

Chelsea stated: “Chelsea Football Club can confirm the Football Association recently contacted our player Mykhailo Mudryk concerning an adverse finding in a routine urine test.

“Both the club and Mykhailo fully support The FA’s testing programme and all our players, including Mykhailo, are regularly tested.

“Mykhailo has confirmed categorically that he has never knowingly used any banned substances. Both Mykhailo and the club will now work with the relevant authorities to establish what has caused the adverse finding.

“The club will not be commenting any further.”

Mudryk, in his own statement, said: “This has come as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules, and am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened.

“I know that I have not done anything wrong and remain hopeful that I will be back on the pitch soon. I cannot say any more now due to the confidentiality of the process, but I will as soon as I can.”