Former Arsenal target and Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is fighting to save his career after appealing a four-year doping ban, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) now officially confirming the case.
The 23-year-old Ukrainian was handed the ban by the Football Association back in January, but the news remained under wraps until Mudryk challenged the decision at CAS. The FA's anti-doping program operates confidentially, meaning only a small circle around the player knew of the suspension until the appeal made it public.
According to reports, the substance at the center of the controversy is meldonium—a cardiovascular medication known to boost respiratory capacity and stamina. Mudryk is believed to have encountered the substance while on international duty with Ukraine, though Ukrainian FA officials have firmly denied any staff involvement.
If the ban stands, Mudryk would be sidelined until the end of 2028, given his provisional suspension started in December 2024. However, sources close to the player remain optimistic, suggesting the ban could be reduced and he might return to action as early as next season.
Mudryk's situation leaves Chelsea with some tough decisions ahead. The winger remains under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2031, but the club would have grounds to terminate his deal for breach of employment terms once the CAS process concludes. Alternatively, they could look to sell him or reintegrate him into the squad, depending on how things unfold. For now, Mudryk is still based in London but training privately, as he's not permitted to train with Chelsea.
Given that Mudryk's appeal was filed in February and similar cases—like Paul Pogba's—have taken roughly six months to reach a final verdict, fans shouldn't expect any major developments until autumn.
It's a dramatic fall from grace for a player Arsenal once pushed hard to sign in 2023, only to see him join their London rivals. Across 73 appearances for Chelsea, Mudryk managed 10 goals and nine assists. In his most recent active season (2024/25), he had yet to open his Premier League account after seven matches, though he did contribute eight goals and assists in eight games across the Conference League.