Doping suspension cancelled due to technical detail: Chelsea player returns immediately
Mykhailo Mudryk has received permission to return to activity immediately. The English Football Association confirmed that the disciplinary proceedings against him for violations of anti-doping rules concluded on Thursday, July 30, 2026, with the consent of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mudryk, who was supposed to serve his sentence until 2030, accepted responsibility for the violations that occurred prior to the conclusion of the proceedings and is now expected to join Chelsea at their training camp in Hong Kong.
Mykhailo Mudryk has received permission to return to activity immediately. The English Football Association confirmed that the disciplinary proceedings against him for violations of anti-doping rules concluded on Thursday, July 30, 2026, with the consent of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Mudryk, who was supposed to serve his sentence until 2030, accepted responsibility for the violations of anti-doping rules, as well as the period of suspension that applied to him until the date the proceedings concluded. He is now expected to join Chelsea at their training camp in Hong Kong.
Between January 7 and 9, 2026, a hearing was held before an independent regulatory commission. The commission determined that Mudryk had violated anti-doping rules and imposed a four-year suspension on him, while the Ukrainian footballer filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Since then, changes have been made to WADA's technical document. Although the changes do not apply retroactively, their significance is that if Mudryk's sample had been collected today, the concentration of meldonium found in it would not have been reported, and no violation of anti-doping rules would have been determined.
The English Football Association and Mudryk have now, with the consent of WADA, reached a settlement in the appeal process in accordance with Article 10.8.2 of the World Anti-Doping Code and Regulation 90 of the 2024 Anti-Doping Regulations.
Mudryk accepted the finding that he had violated anti-doping rules and did not appeal the period of suspension that applied to him until the date of the agreement.
As recalled, last April the English Football Association suspended Mudryk for four years after he was found guilty of violating anti-doping regulations. The 25-year-old winger tested positive for the substance meldonium in a urine test conducted in 2024, but throughout the process denied committing an offense and filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
He has not played since November 2024 and holds a contract until the summer of 2031 with Chelsea, who purchased him three and a half years ago for 70 million euros.
Chelsea announced that they are now focusing on reintegrating Mudryk into the team:
"We know how significant the opportunity to return is for him. We are now focusing on supporting Misha's reintegration into the squad and helping him resume his career. Everyone at the club looks forward to helping him return to full fitness, return to the squad, and get back on the pitch."
At the beginning of the week, it was reported that Mudryk lost a legal proceeding in London and approximately 2.5 million pounds were frozen from his accounts.
