Mykhailo Mudryk has broken his social media silence during his doping ban with a message to Chelsea ahead of their Premier League match against Fulham on Sunday.
The Ukraine international was provisionally suspended from football in December after testing positive for the banned performance-enhancing substance meldonium.
Mudryk, who Chelsea signed in an £89 million deal from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023, has not played for Enzo Maresca’s side since the 2-0 win over FC Heidenheim in the Conference League last November.
The 23-year-old was on the bench for Chelsea’s 3-0 win at home to Aston Villa at the start of December 1 but was an unused substitute.
Mudryk has maintained a low profile during his provisional suspension but the winger made it clear that he is missing being a part of Chelsea’s season with his response to the club’s Instagram post ahead of their match against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
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On Saturday afternoon, Chelsea posted highlights of the same fixture last season at Craven Cottage where goals from Mudryk and Armando Broja sealed a 2-0 victory.
Mudryk replied to Chelsea’s post with an emoji of a sad face that had a single tear.
Under the World Anti-Doping Code (WADA), players who fail a doping test can be banned from football for up to four years.
Paul Pogba, who tested positive for the banned substance dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in August 2023, was initially given a four-year suspension before it was reduced to 18 months following a successful appeal to the court of arbitration for sport.
Pogba is now without a club after leaving Juventus but was cleared to return to football in March.
In a message to his followers on Instagram after his provisional ban, Mudryk wrote: ‘I can confirm that I have been notified that a sample I provided to The FA contained a banned substance.
‘This has come as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules, and am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened.
‘I know that I have not done anything wrong and remain hopeful that I will be back on the pitch soon. I cannot say any more now due to the confidentiality of the process, but I will as soon as I can.’
A statement from Chelsea read: ‘Chelsea Football Club can confirm the Football Association recently contacted our player Mykhailo Mudryk concerning an adverse finding in a routine urine test.
‘Both the club and Mykhailo fully support The FA’s testing programme and all our players, including Mykhailo, are regularly tested.
‘Mykhailo has confirmed categorically that he has never knowingly used any banned substances.
‘Both Mykhailo and the Club will now work with the relevant authorities to establish what has caused the adverse finding.’
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