Audio By Carbonatix
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged by the Football Association with violating its anti-doping rules after failing a drugs test and could now face up to a four-year ban.
The Ukraine international, 24, was provisionally suspended by the FA in December after an "adverse finding in a routine urine test".
Players found to have intentionally taken a prohibited substance can be banned for up to four years under the guidelines of world football's governing body, Fifa.
At the time Mudryk said he was in "complete shock" and he "never knowingly used any banned substances".
He has not played for Chelsea since 28 November and has not been included in a matchday squad since 1 December.
Mudryk cannot train with Chelsea either, and the club are supporting him and his mental wellbeing.
He attended the Blues' Uefa Conference League final win in Poland last month in a private capacity and was not with the squad.
In a statement on Wednesday, the FA said: "We can confirm that Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged with anti-doping rule violations alleging the presence and/or use of a prohibited substance, in terms of regulations 3 and 4 of the FA's anti-doping regulations.
"As this is an ongoing case, we are not in a position to comment further at this time."
Chelsea have not commented but in December said, external they would work to establish what caused the failed test, adding: "Mykhailo has confirmed categorically that he has never knowingly used any banned substances."
Blues manager Enzo Maresca said in December: "We support Mykhailo and trust means that we believe Mykhailo."
Under FA rules, players have the right to request analysis of the B sample from a urine test, in the event of an adverse analytical finding in an A sample.
If the B sample analysis confirms the adverse finding, charges will be brought.
Players can either accept the finding and the applicable consequences, or request that the matter proceed to a hearing.
Chelsea signed Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 in a deal worth up to £89m, and he is under contract at the club until June 2031.
Mudryk has scored 10 goals in 73 appearances in all competitions for the Blues.
Latest Stories
-
Ghana risks up to $21.3bn economic loss as Benin targets regional manufacturers – Agribusiness Chamber
2 minutes -
Ashanti MPs question government’s funding priorities over Suame Interchange downgrade
7 minutes -
Factory closures, job losses loom as Ghana loses edge in regional investment race
10 minutes -
Senegal arrests 14 members of alleged paedophile gang linked to France
12 minutes -
Iran arrests prominent reformist politicians, cites links to US, Israel
17 minutes -
53 migrants, including two babies, dead or missing after boat capsizes off Libya
26 minutes -
CETAG Strike: TTAG urges teacher trainees to resume academic activities
27 minutes -
FGM still happening as perpetrators move girls to neighbouring countries – Upper West Gender Director
28 minutes -
All you need to know about service recruitment aptitude test
30 minutes -
EDA Logistics and partners commission renovated classrooms and canteen at Avornyokope Basic School
41 minutes -
U20 WWCQ: We have to go to South Africa and beat them to qualify – Charles Sampson
42 minutes -
Fighting illegal mining should be a performance measure for MDCEs – Sulemana Braimah
53 minutes -
OSP denies bias, says NPP and NDC vote-buying probes guided by law
1 hour -
Black Princesses ‘lacked calmness’ in front of goal against South Africa – Charles Sampson
1 hour -
Illegal mining continues under political protection – Awula Serwah
1 hour
