Accra: Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been cleared to return to competitive football after the Football Association confirmed that his anti-doping case has been concluded. The Ukrainian international had been unavailable since November 2024 after testing positive for meldonium, a banned substance, during an out-of-competition test.
According to Ghana Web, Mudryk was initially handed a four-year suspension following a ruling by an independent regulatory commission. However, the decision was later challenged through an appeal process. The FA has now confirmed that an agreement involving the player, the governing body, and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has brought the disciplinary proceedings to an end, allowing Mudryk to resume his career immediately.
In a statement on Instagram, Mudryk expressed his eagerness to return to the pitch. He stated, "After a long battle, the four-year ban that was imposed on me has been rescinded, and I am free to resume my career with immediate effect. I am grateful that this process has reached a conclusion, that I have been cleared to return to football and that I can now look ahead to my future." The 25-year-old insisted he never deliberately violated anti-doping rules and thanked those who supported him throughout the difficult period.
Mudryk further emphasized, "I have never knowingly or intentionally taken any banned substance. My commitment to competing fairly and representing my club and country with professionalism and integrity has always been important to me." Chelsea also welcomed the decision, noting that the outcome would allow Mudryk to focus on returning to action while also showing their support. "We have always supported Misha throughout this process while fully respecting the integrity of the anti-doping system and the legal process," the club said.
Mudryk, who joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023, will now begin preparations to return to competitive football after more than a year away from the pitch.