The drug Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk is accused of taking is the same one that caused Maria Sharapova’s ban…
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for meldonium, a substance banned for its performance-enhancing properties. The 23-year-old Ukrainian international’s initial ‘A’ sample, collected in October, indicated the presence of meldonium, and he now awaits the results of his ‘B’ sample for confirmation.
Meldonium, originally developed in Latvia during the 1970s, is primarily used to treat heart conditions like ischemia by improving blood flow. Its ability to enhance physical endurance and recovery led to its prohibition by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in 2016. Notably, tennis star Maria Sharapova received a 15-month suspension in 2016 after testing positive for the same substance.
Mudryk, who transferred to Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 for a fee potentially rising to £89 million, has denied any intentional wrongdoing. In a statement, he expressed shock at the findings, asserting, “I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules.” Chelsea Football Club has pledged full cooperation with the relevant authorities during the investigation.
The Football Association (FA) has imposed a provisional suspension on Mudryk, preventing him from participating in matches or training sessions until the matter is resolved. If the ‘B’ sample corroborates the initial result, Mudryk could face a ban of up to four years, depending on the circumstances and any mitigating factors considered during the adjudication process.
