Mykhailo Mudryk has been handed a four-year ban by the FA after he tested positive for a banned substance in 2024, talkSPORT understands.
The Chelsea star has since lodged an appeal over the decision, which has been referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
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Mudryk was provisionally suspended by the Football Association in December 2024 after a urine sample tested positive for the banned substance meldonium while on international duty with Ukraine.
Following the provisional ban, the FA subsequently charged Mudryk in June last year following analysis of his B Sample.
His suspension prevents him from training with Chelsea, and as a result he has since been renting non-league side Uxbridge’s facilities.
Mudryk has always denied any wrongdoing, and has hired Morgan Sports Law to represent him – the same firm who represented Paul Pogba during his doping ban.
A hearing for the 25-year-old’s appeal is yet to be sanctioned, where he is looking to have the ban fully overturned, or reduced in a worst-case scenario.
This was the case for Pogba, whose four-year suspension was decreased to 18 months in October 2024.
When could Mudryk return?
The 28-cap Ukraine international’s ban will be backdated and include a provisional ban, keeping him sidelined until 2028, although the exact date of his return is not clear.
talkSPORT reporter Ben Jacobs discussed the latest news about Mudryk live on air, after news broke of his FA ban.
He said: “The parties are currently exchanging written submissions and a hearing is yet to be sanctioned.
“Sources have subsequently told us at talkSPORT that the ban is four years and Mudryk is hoping, using the same lawyers actually as Paul Pogba, to either get vindicated by the Court of Arbitration for sport or at least in a worst case scenario have that ban reduced.”
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Jacobs also revealed that if Mudryk’s appeal results in a reduction, he could potentially return to football by the end of next season.
He added: “If, like Pogba, the ban was moved from four years to 18 months or two years, then because the provisional suspension that Mudryk has served counts towards that, he could in theory, if successful, find himself back in action ahead of next season.
“But if he serves the full four-year ban because CAS uphold the FA decision, then obviously his Chelsea future and maybe even his future in football becomes severely in doubt.”
The reporter also stressed it is unclear what view CAS will take on Mudryk’s alleged use of banned substance meldonium.
Jacobs continued: “It’s a performance-enhancing drug that effectively is seen to usually help your recovery.
“That’s the essence of it all and it’s the same performance enhancing drug actually that was taken by Maria Sharapova, and there’s debates as to what the actual benefit is.
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“But generally speaking it would be viewed as aiding recovery and kind of strengthening the stamina, and there’s different reports and suggestions as to whether there is even any benefit to an athlete.
“But Mudryk denies taking anything at least knowingly.
“The challenge with this is that athletes have strict liability for anything put in their body which means whether it’s an accident, whether it’s potential if we’re talking more broadly, sabotage, if an athlete has ingested something illegal they’re strictly liable.”
Costly ban
Mudryk’s ban will come as a blow to former club Shakhtar Donetsk, who are set to miss out on €30million (£25.9m) if he does not play for Chelsea again.
The Ukrainian joined the Blues in January 2023 for an initial €70m (£62m) with a further €30m (£27m) in add-ons.
He signed an eight-and-a-half year deal, but the add-ons are based on Chelsea’s performance and Mudryk’s contributions, and have not yet been triggered.
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On Tuesday, Shakhtar chief executive Sergei Palkin revealed the club will miss not receive these bonuses if his former player remains away from football.
Palkin said: “We have €30m of bonuses in his contract.
“If he’s not playing, or Chelsea aren’t reaching results, we are losing €30m. That’s a big financial impact for us.
“Everybody believes this story will finish as soon as possible with a positive result and Mudryk will return to playing. Otherwise, we will be in a position to lose €30m.
“I know Mudryk as a player and a person. I believe he will return and start playing again… Everybody is waiting for the court’s decision, and we don’t have any information about when this will take place and when the final decision will be issued.”
Mudryk last featured for Chelsea in November 2024, playing in a Conference League match against German club Heidenheim.
