Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been cleared to resume his professional career after his long-running anti-doping case was resolved, making him immediately available to play for both club and country.
The Ukrainian international is expected to rejoin Chelsea’s squad for their pre-season tour of Hong Kong after accepting responsibility for an anti-doping rule violation involving the banned substance meldonium.
Under the agreement reached with the relevant authorities, Mudryk received a sanction equivalent to the period he had already served, allowing him to return to competitive football with immediate effect.
Mudryk’s case began in December 2024 when he was provisionally suspended after returning an adverse result in a routine drugs test conducted while he was on international duty with Ukraine.
The substance detected was later identified as meldonium, a cardiovascular medication that has been prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) since 2016 because it can enhance endurance and stamina.
In June 2025, the Football Association(FA) formally charged the winger with an anti-doping violation. He was later handed the maximum four-year suspension, a punishment that would have kept him out of football until late 2028 if it had remained in place.
Mudryk appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), maintaining throughout the process that he had never knowingly taken a banned substance.
The appeal process ultimately resulted in a settlement, with the player accepting the anti-doping rule violation while receiving a reduced sanction that matched the time he had already spent away from the game.
Chelsea welcomed the outcome, confirming that the club now looks forward to helping the 25-year-old regain full fitness and reintegrate into the first-team squad.
His return also makes him available once again for the Ukraine national team.
Mudryk joined Chelsea from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 in a deal worth an initial €70 million (£61 million), with potential add-ons taking the total value significantly higher.
Before his suspension, he made 73 appearances for the Blues, scoring 10 goals across all competitions.
