The Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk has appealed to the court of arbitration for sport after he received a reported four-year playing ban from the Football Association for the use of a banned substance.
Mudryk has not played a competitive match since November 2024 after he failed a drugs test while on international duty with Ukraine and began a provisional suspension. Under the terms of any four-year ban he would not be eligible for selection again until December 2028, but if an appeal to Cas were successful then the 25-year-old could possibly return next year.
It is understood that the appeal was submitted in February of this year and it was confirmed by Cas in a statement released on Wednesday. “Cas confirms it has received an appeal by Mykhailo Mudryk against the FA,” it read. “The parties are currently exchanging written submissions, and a hearing is yet to be scheduled.”
Details of the case have been kept away from the public eye, with the FA refusing to comment throughout the disciplinary process. It has been reported, however, that Mudryk has received the maximum possible suspension after traces of the drug meldonium – which can improve an individual’s stamina – were found in his system.
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Under regulation 77 of the FA’s anti-doping policy, a four-year ban results if the violation relates either to a non-specified substance, unless it can be established that the violation was not intentional, or a specified substance where the FA can establish the violation was intentional.
In a statement issued at the time of his suspension, Mudryk said the positive sample had come as “a complete shock” and he had “not done anything wrong”, with Chelsea adding the player had “never knowingly used any banned substances”.
Mudryk joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 in a potential £89m move. He has scored 10 goals in 73 appearances in all competitions but rarely held down a regular place in the team before his provisional suspension.
Chelsea would not comment on the news saying they had to let the process take its course. The FA said they would not comment on ongoing proceedings.