MUDRYK CLEARED TO RETURN AFTER DOPING BAN APPEAL UPHELD

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 imposed by the Football Association. The Chelsea winger, 25, had not played a competitive match since November 2024 after returning an adverse finding for meldonium, a banned cardiovascular medication. Cas ruled that Mudryk can return "with immediate effect" after he accepted breaking anti-doping rules and agreed to a suspension equivalent to time already served.

Mudryk was provisionally suspended following the positive test result. Cas noted that the test displayed "a low concentration" of the prohibited substance and acknowledged that changes have since been made to the World Anti-Doping Agency's technical document regarding meldonium. The court's decision indicated that had Mudryk's sample been analysed under current technical requirements, it would not have been reported as a positive test. Mudryk has consistently maintained he never knowingly or intentionally used a prohibited substance and did not know how traces entered his system.

Chelsea said in a statement that the resolution allows Mudryk to return to football and that the club had supported him throughout the process whilst respecting anti-doping integrity. The club welcomed the acknowledgement that advances in scientific reporting standards contributed to the agreed resolution. The Football Association confirmed that anti-doping disciplinary proceedings with Mudryk have been resolved and he is now available for competition.