Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been cleared to resume competitive football with immediate effect after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) partially upheld his appeal against a four-year doping ban.
The Ukraine international, who has not featured in a competitive match since November 2024, was provisionally suspended by the Football Association in December after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium during an out-of-competition test while on international duty in October 2024.
Mudryk was initially handed the maximum four-year suspension by the FA but appealed the decision to CAS.
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The tribunal ruled that while an anti-doping rule violation had occurred, Mudryk could return to action immediately after agreeing to a suspension period equivalent to the time he had already served.
Reacting to the verdict, the 25-year-old expressed relief at being able to resume his career.
“I am grateful to be cleared to return to playing,” Mudryk said.
“As I have always maintained from the outset of this case, I have never knowingly or intentionally taken any banned substance.”
CAS noted that Mudryk’s sample contained a low concentration of meldonium, a substance prohibited because of its potential to enhance cardiovascular performance and endurance.
The tribunal also observed that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has since updated its guidance on meldonium thresholds. According to the ruling, if Mudryk’s sample had been tested under the current reporting limits, the concentration detected would not have triggered an adverse analytical finding.
Although the revised guidance could not be applied retrospectively, the court considered it relevant in assessing the circumstances surrounding the case.
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Chelsea welcomed the decision, saying the club looks forward to helping Mudryk regain full match fitness and reintegrate into the first-team squad.
The winger is now expected to join Chelsea’s pre-season preparations ahead of the new campaign.
Mudryk also thanked everyone at Chelsea for their support throughout the process, saying he is excited for “the next chapter” of his career as he returns to football after what he described as the most difficult period of his life.
