Mykhailo Mudryk cleared to return after doping Ban agreement

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is eligible to return to competitive football with immediate effect after the Football Association (FA) reached an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to resolve the anti-doping case against the Ukrainian international.

Mudryk, who tested positive for the banned substance meldonium following an anti-doping test in October 2024, had initially been handed a four-year suspension by the FA in April, ruling him out until 2028.

The 25-year-old appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) before all parties reached a settlement on Thursday, bringing the disciplinary proceedings to an end.

In a statement released on Friday, the FA confirmed that an agreement had been reached with Mudryk and WADA.

“As part of the agreement, Mr Mudryk accepted that he had committed the Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) charged and acceded to a period of ineligibility equal to the time already served at the date of the agreement.”

Rule Changes Played a Key Role

The FA also revealed that amendments to WADA’s technical guidelines since Mudryk’s original test significantly influenced the outcome of the case.

According to the governing body, if the Chelsea winger had been tested under the current regulations, the concentration of meldonium found in his sample would not have triggered an anti-doping violation.

“If Mr Mudryk’s sample was collected today, the concentration of meldonium in the sample would not have been reported and no ADRVs would have resulted,” the FA said.

Mudryk: ‘The Toughest Period of My Career’

Reacting to the decision, Mudryk described the suspension as the most challenging experience of his professional career and expressed his relief at being able to resume playing.

“I am grateful that this process has reached a conclusion, that I have been cleared to return to football and that I can now look ahead to my future.”

The Ukraine international also reiterated that he had never knowingly breached the anti-doping rules.

“As I have always maintained from the outset of this case, I have never knowingly or intentionally taken any banned substance. My commitment to competing fairly and representing my club and country with professionalism and integrity has always been important to me.”

Chelsea Ready to Welcome Mudryk Back

Throughout the disciplinary process, Chelsea publicly supported the winger, and the club says its focus will now shift to helping him regain full fitness and reintegrate into the first-team squad.

In a club statement, Chelsea said:

“We know how much this opportunity to return means to him.”

“Everyone at the club now looks forward to helping Misha return to full fitness, back into the squad and back onto the pitch.”

Mudryk is now expected to begin working towards match fitness ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League campaign, with the Blues set to open the new season away to Fulham on August 24.