Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk charged by the FA for doping offences | OneFootball

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been officially charged by the Football Association (FA) for doping offences and now faces a potential four-year suspension from football.

The 24-year-old tested positive for a banned substance, believed to be meldonium, during a routine drug test last year.

Mudryk was provisionally suspended while he and Chelsea awaited the results of a second test – the so-called ‘B’ sample.

With that now complete, the FA has confirmed charges under regulations three and four of its anti-doping code (h/t Telegraph Sport).

Mudryk joined Chelsea in 2023. However, the Ukrainian international has not featured since he scored in the 2-0 Europa Conference League win against Heidenheim in November.

His suspension also prohibits him from training or joining his teammates.

Mydryk has maintained his innocence since the whole saga started. He insists he never knowingly consumed a banned substance.

The former Shakhtar Donetsk player has enlisted the services of Morgan Sports Law to defend against the charges.

The firm is experienced in high-profile doping cases and was responsible for reducing Paul Pogba’s proposed four-year ban to 18 months.

Mudryk is still hoping to return to football at the earliest opportunity. He travelled alone to watch Chelsea’s Europa Conference League final against Real Betis in Poland.

However, there are signs that Chelsea have started planning for life beyond the Ukrainian.

His number ten shirt has been handed to Cole Palmer while the club are in the market for a new left-footed right winger, with Jamie Gittens and Malick Fofana on their wishlist.