-
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been cleared to resume playing immediately after the Court of Arbitration for Sport partially upheld his appeal against a four-year doping ban.
-
The Ukrainian international accepted a breach of anti-doping regulations and agreed to a suspension covering the time he had already served, allowing him to return to competition with immediate effect.
-
Mudryk had not featured in a competitive match since November 2024 after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium and receiving the maximum sanction from the Football Association.
July 31, (THEWILL) — Chelsea have welcomed the ruling and confirmed the 25-year-old will rejoin the squad for pre-season as he begins his return to first-team football.
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been given the green light to resume his professional career after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) partially upheld his appeal against a four-year suspension for violating anti-doping regulations.
The ruling means the 25-year-old can return to competitive football immediately, bringing an end to a lengthy spell on the sidelines that began late in 2024.
Mudryk had not played since November 2024 after he was provisionally suspended by the Football Association the following month when a drug test revealed the presence of meldonium, a substance prohibited under anti-doping rules.
Following the investigation, the FA imposed a four-year ban, the maximum penalty available under its regulations.
However, the Ukrainian international challenged the decision before CAS.
After reviewing the case, the sport’s highest arbitration body ruled that Mudryk would be allowed to return with immediate effect after accepting responsibility for breaching anti-doping regulations and agreeing that the period he had already served under suspension would constitute his sanction.
Reacting to the decision, Mudryk expressed relief at finally being able to resume his career after what he described as the toughest period of his professional life.
He reiterated that he had never intentionally used any prohibited substance and thanked those who had supported him throughout the legal process.
“As I have always maintained from the outset of this case, I have never knowingly or intentionally taken any banned substance,” Mudryk said.
Chelsea also welcomed the outcome, confirming that the winger will immediately begin reintegrating with the squad.
The Premier League club said they are eager to help Mudryk regain full match fitness and revealed he will be included in the team’s pre-season tour as preparations continue for the new campaign.
Mudryk, who joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023, also thanked the club, his teammates, and supporters for standing by him during his suspension.
The CAS ruling closes one of the most closely watched doping cases involving a Premier League player in recent years and allows the Ukrainian winger to rebuild his career after nearly two years away from competitive football.
