Premier League footballer Mykhailo Mudryk has 'adverse finding' in routine drug test, Chelsea say
Ukrainian international Mudryk, 23, signed for Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in a transfer worth an initial fee of around 拢62m in January 2023.
Tuesday 17 December 2024 11:55, UK
The Football Association (FA) has notified Mykhailo Mudryk of "an adverse finding in a routine urine test", his club Chelsea have announced.
The Ukrainian, who plays as a winger for the Premier League club, also confirmed the news and said he had "never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules".
In a statement on Instagram, the 23-year-old said the finding had come as a "complete shock".
"I am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened," he wrote.
"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."
The club said in a statement: "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."
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It is understood Mudryk has been provisionally suspended by the FA pending a decision over whether to charge him.
A routine doping test in August was negative.
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Mudryk signed an eight-and-a-half-year deal with Chelsea after moving from Shakhtar Donetsk in a transfer worth an initial fee of around £62m in January 2023.
The deal, which includes add-ons rising to a possible £89m, made him the most expensive Ukrainian footballer in history.
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However, the winger has struggled to live up to his price tag, scoring just five goals in 53 league appearances for the west London side.
His Premier League minutes have been limited under new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, but he has shown glimpses of quality in the club's Europa Conference League campaign, scoring three goals in six appearances.