Every word Chelsea have said on Mudryk's doping suspension

Tom Weber

• Updated: 18 Dec 2024 16:43 GMT
• 5 min read

Chelsea insist that Mykhailo Mudryk is not guilty of breaking doping regulations.

The Ukrainian winger has been provisionally suspended by the Football Association after a routine urine examination showed the presence of meldonium in his body.

It is a substance that is banned in the UK but finds relatively widespread use in Eastern Europe as medication, and it is thought that Mudryk came into contact with it while on international duty.

READ MORE: Mudryk was backed to win Ballon d’Or by Chelsea

The player and his club are still awaiting the results of his 'B sample' which will either prove his innocence or perhaps condemn him to a potentially lengthy ban from football.

Mudryk insists that he did not wilfully use the substance and he is fully cooperating with the investigation into the matter.

Chelsea statement

On Tuesday, December 18, 2024, Chelsea released the following statement as news of Mudryk's suspension began filtering through in the media.

"Chelsea Football Club can confirm the Football Association recently contacted our player Mykhailo Mudryk concerning an adverse finding in a routine urine test.

"Both the club and Mykhailo fully support The FA's testing programme and all our players, including Mykhailo, are regularly tested.

"Mykhailo has confirmed categorically that he has never knowingly used any banned substances. Both Mykhailo and the club will now work with the relevant authorities to establish what has caused the adverse finding.

"The club will not be commenting any further."

READ MORE: Mudryk copies Pogba after failed drugs test

Mudryk statement

Shortly after Chelsea's statement, Mudryk himself took to social media to write the following.

"I can confirm that I have been notified that a sample I provided to The FA contained a banned substance.

"This has come as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules, and am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened.

I know that I have not done anything wrong and remain hopeful that I will be back on the pitch soon. I cannot say any more now due to the confidentiality of the process, but I will as soon as I can."

Maresca insists Mudryk is innocent

The following day, head coach Enzo Maresca spoke about Mudryk ahead of Chelsea's Conference League clash with Shamrock Rovers.

"Now the situation is a bit more clear, in terms of we have a statement with the club. There is not anything to add apart from the club, the staff all support and trust Misha.

"General support. We trust Misha. When this kind of thing happens, you need to support your player in all of the aspects. Misha is a Chelsea player but for sure, he is one of the players that is involved in the squad so I am in contact with him.

"This is not the first time it has happened. It has happened in the past. They know exactly what they have to do.

"We are all upset and sad and we are there to support Misha. I spoke with him days ago. At the moment, he cannot train. We are waiting. The club is ready to support the player.

"We trust Misha, we support him. What Misha said, and what we said, is that we trust Misha and support Misha.

"First of all, these kind of things happen not only with young players but also players with experience. It's my duty since we started to try and have relationships with players quite close. With Misha, it is exactly the same. I am there to help Misha with anything he needs.

"We all believe that [he is innocent].

"No, I don't think so [that his Chelsea career is over]. I think he will come back, we don't know when - that is the only doubt we have in this moment but for sure, he will come back."

"We had all the same feeling. The teammates were all surprised. And in the same time, sad, because we don't like these kind of things.

"He was improving a lot. He started to understand which position he had to stay. With us, I think in the last two or three games he was improving a lot. The talent we see on the training pitch is exactly the same."

Tosin on Mudryk suspension

At the same press conference, centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo became the first Chelsea player to speak out on the Mudryk incident.

"It's new news to all of us. We found out the same time as you guys. We still support Misha. There is not much we can do. But Misha is part of our family.

"It's something that can happen, but you have to take precautions. All of us are being very careful."