Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk cleared for immediate return to football after resolving doping ban

Chelsea FC winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been cleared to make an immediate return to action after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ( Cas ) partially upheld an appeal against his four-year ban for doping. The 25-year-old has not played a competitive match since November 2024 after returning an adverse finding for banned substance meldonium. Having been provisionally suspended by the Football Association (FA), Mudryk was then widely reported to have been given a four-year ban – though appealed to Cas against that decision. The body has now ruled that Mudryk can return “with immediate effect” after he accepted breaking anti-doping rules, and reached agreement on a suspension equivalent to time served. Cas said the test displayed "a low concentration" of the prohibited substance. It added that changes have since been made to the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) technical document regarding meldonium, a cardiovascular medication. “From the outset, this has been an extremely difficult period for Misha, both professionally and personally, and we are pleased that the matter has now reached a conclusion which allows him to return to football with immediate effect,” Chelsea said in a statement. “We have always supported Misha throughout this process while fully respecting the integrity of the anti-doping system and the legal process. “We welcome the acknowledgement that advances in the applicable scientific reporting standards for more reliable testing mean that, had Misha's sample been analysed under today's technical requirements, it would not have been reported as a positive test and no anti-doping rule violation would have resulted. That is an important part of the context surrounding the agreed resolution and allows everyone involved to move forward. “Misha has consistently maintained that he never knowingly or intentionally used a prohibited substance and did not know how traces of the substance entered his system. Throughout this process he has conducted himself professionally and with resilience during what has undoubtedly been one of the most challenging periods of his career.” Mudryk is now expected to join up with the Chelsea squad as they continue their preparations for the new Premier League season. Xabi Alonso’s side play Tottenham in a friendly on Saturday. Capped 28 times by Ukraine, the winger moved to the London club from Shakthar Donetsk in 2023 and signed an eight-and-a-half year contract.