Once hailed as one of Europe’s brightest young wingers, Mykhailo Mudryk now finds himself at the centre of a doping scandal that could dramatically alter the trajectory of his career. The 24-year-old Chelsea forward has been officially charged by the FA after testing positive for meldonium, a banned performance-enhancing drug.
The charge comes six months after Mudryk was provisionally suspended in December 2024. Despite the time gap, the Football Association’s decision signals that the evidence against the Ukrainian is substantial. If found guilty, he could face a ban of up to four years—an outcome that would stall his career during its prime years.
Mudryk, who joined Chelsea in 2023 for 89 million, has yet to live up to the lofty expectations that accompanied his move from Shakhtar Donetsk. His Chelsea stint has been marred by inconsistency, and the doping saga has only deepened concerns about his long-term prospects. In his absence, Chelsea have already moved forward—Cole Palmer has taken over the coveted No.10 shirt, and the club has reshaped its attacking plans without the Ukrainian in the picture.
Still, Mudryk hasn’t given up. He maintains he did not knowingly take any banned substances and has hired a high-profile legal team—one that previously helped Paul Pogba reduce a similar ban. That precedent may offer a path forward, but the legal battle will be uphill.
As things stand, Chelsea have opted for silence, declining to comment on the latest developments. But behind closed doors, there will be pressing questions about how to proceed with a player whose future now hangs in the balance.
For Mudryk, the stakes are enormous—not just a spot in the Chelsea XI, but the very foundation of his professional football career.
