Mykhailo Mudryk: the matchup, the stakes, the verdict

Mykhailo Mudryk handed four-year ban from English football after FA found him guilty of doping; Mudryk has been suspended since December 2024 after failing drugs test; positive test was for prohibited substance meldonium; Mudryk had said failed drugs test was complete shock. Mykhailo Mudryk has emerged this Friday as one of the stories drawing attention in Zimbabwe.

Key facts

• Mykhailo Mudryk handed four-year ban from English football after FA found him guilty of doping; Mudryk has been suspended since December 2024 after failing drugs test; positive test was for prohibited substance meldonium; Mudryk had said failed drugs test was complete shock.
• Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk takes his fight against a Football Association drugs ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
• Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport against a four‑year drugs ban imposed by the Football Association.
• In a statement to BBC Sport, Cas said: "Cas confirms it has received an appeal by Mykhailo Mudryk against the FA, filed on 25 February 2026.
• Charged in June 2025, Mudryk was subsequently handed the maximum four‑year ban by the FA, according to a spokesperson for the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the highest legal authority in sport.

What we know

Going deeper, Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk takes his fight against a Football Association drugs ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

On the substance, Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport against a four‑year drugs ban imposed by the Football Association.

Beyond the headlines, In a statement to BBC Sport, Cas said: "Cas confirms it has received an appeal by Mykhailo Mudryk against the FA, filed on 25 February 2026.

More precisely, Charged in June 2025, Mudryk was subsequently handed the maximum four‑year ban by the FA, according to a spokesperson for the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the highest legal authority in sport.

It is worth noting that the BBC understands Mudryk came into contact with the cardiovascular medication meldonium, which can increase respiratory capacity and stamina, while on duty with the Ukraine national team in October 2024.

By the numbers

At this stage, Mudryk, who joined Chelsea for an initial 70m euros (£61m) in January 2023, has not played a competitive match since November 2024.

On a related note, Chelsea signed Mudryk for £88m from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 and he still has five years left on his contract.

Going deeper, the positive test was for the prohibited substance meldonium but Mudryk believes his sample was contaminated when he was on international duty with Ukraine in October 2024.

On the substance, Mudryk was provisionally suspended by the FA in December 2024 after failing a drugs test.

The wider context

On a related note, Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after he was given a four-year ban by the Football Association for doping.

Going deeper, Now 16 months on from his initial suspension, Mudryk maintains he is innocent.

On the substance, In his only public statement when his provisional suspension began, Mudryk described his "complete shock" and said he had "never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules".

Beyond the headlines, Mudryk is being defended by Morgan Sports Law, the firm who worked with former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba during his doping case while playing for Juventus, as well as boxer Tyson Fury and cyclist Chris Froome during their respective investigations.

More precisely, Mudryk's legal team has also been contacted for comment.

The bottom line

• The BBC understands Mudryk came into contact with the cardiovascular medication meldonium, which can increase respiratory capacity and stamina, while on duty with the Ukraine national team in October 2024.
• The positive test was for the prohibited substance meldonium but Mudryk believes his sample was contaminated when he was on international duty with Ukraine in October 2024.
• The Ukraine international, 25, has been sidelined for nearly 18 months after an "adverse finding in a routine urine test" led to a provisional suspension in December 2024.
• Searches spiking right now: Mykhailo Mudryk: Why was Chelsea winger given secret ban?, Mykhailo Mudryk: Chelsea winger to appeal against four-year ban for doping offence to Court of Arbitration for Sport, Full breakdown on Mykhailo Mudryk's four-year ban - what it means for Chelsea and £80m star's future, Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk appeals to Cas against reported four-year ban.