Mykhailo Mudryk is now eligible to resume competitive football after anti-doping disciplinary proceedings against him were resolved. The resolution, reached with the agreement of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), allows the player to return to competition immediately. The Football Association (FA) confirmed the agreement on 30 July 2026, following an appeal process.
The proceedings stemmed from an out-of-competition doping control on 22 October 2024, which detected a low concentration of meldonium, a prohibited substance. Following this finding, the FA notified Mr Mudryk on 4 December 2024 and imposed a provisional suspension. He was subsequently charged with Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) on 23 May 2025, under Regulations 3 and 4 of the 2024 Anti-Doping Regulations.
Resolution of the Disciplinary Case
An independent Regulatory Commission conducted a hearing between 7 and 9 January 2026, which concluded that Mr Mudryk had committed the charged ADRVs and imposed a four-year period of ineligibility. Mr Mudryk then filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in April 2026.
During this period, changes were made to the WADA Technical Document (TD2027MRL). Although these changes are not retroactive, they indicate that if Mr Mudryk’s sample were collected under current standards, the meldonium concentration would not have been reported, and no ADRVs would have resulted. This development, along with other circumstances of the case, led to the resolution of the appeal proceedings.
The FA and Mr Mudryk, with WADA’s agreement, resolved the appeal in accordance with Article 10.8.2 of the World Anti-Doping Code and Regulation 90 of the 2024 Anti-Doping Regulations. As part of this agreement, Mr Mudryk accepted that he had committed the ADRVs and acceded to a period of ineligibility equivalent to the time he had already served.
Chelsea FC issued a statement expressing their satisfaction with the outcome, highlighting the challenging period for Mr Mudryk both professionally and personally. The club affirmed its commitment to supporting his reintegration into the squad and helping him resume his career, while also upholding anti-doping standards.
Player’s Reaction and Return to Football
Mr Mudryk, who has not played for Chelsea since November 2024, when he featured in a 2-0 Conference League defeat of Heidenheim, maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. He was provisionally suspended after a routine doping test showed an adverse finding.
After approximately 20 months on the sidelines, Mr Mudryk shared a statement on his Instagram page following the lifting of the ban. He expressed gratitude that the process had concluded and that he was cleared to return to football. He stated that this had been the most difficult period of his career and reiterated that he had never knowingly or intentionally taken any banned substance.
His commitment to fair competition and representing his club and country with professionalism and integrity has always been important to him. He thanked his family, friends, legal team, Chelsea FC, teammates, and supporters for their backing during this time. His immediate focus is on returning to football, working diligently, and contributing positively on the pitch.
During his suspension, Mr Mudryk trained alone with a private coaching staff, often sharing footage of shooting drills at Uxbridge FC’s Honeycroft stadium. He missed out on contributing to Chelsea’s Conference League and Club World Cup campaigns, though he was present in Wroclaw when Chelsea secured the Conference League title.
Mr Mudryk is now expected to be reintegrated into Xabi Alonso’s squad, which is currently on a pre-season tour of Australia and south-east Asia. His last appearance for Chelsea was on November 28, 2024, in a 2-0 win over Heidenheim in the Conference League.
Source: thefa.com
Adam Rutherford is a Senior Football Correspondent at News-UK. He spent his early career filing match reports across the North West. He focuses on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Manchester Metropolitan University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Manchester, he coaches a youth team and watches grassroots football. “Every transfer window hides a dozen real stories.”
