Chelsea’s Mudryk free to play after CAS appeal

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been cleared to return to competitive football immediately after the Court of Arbitration for Sport partially upheld his appeal against a four-year doping ban.

The Ukraine international, 25, has not played a competitive match since November 2024 after he was provisionally suspended by the Football Association in December following an adverse finding for the banned substance meldonium.

Mudryk was initially handed the maximum four-year suspension by the FA but appealed the decision to CAS. The tribunal has now ruled that he can return to action after accepting an anti-doping violation and agreeing to a suspension period equal to the time he has already served.

As reported by BBC Sport on Friday, in a statement, Mudryk said he was grateful to be able to resume his career after what he described as the “most difficult period” of his life.

I am grateful to be cleared to return to playing,” Mudryk said. “As I have always maintained from the outset of this case, I have never knowingly or intentionally taken any banned substance.”

The CAS ruling confirmed that Mudryk tested positive for meldonium during an out-of-competition test while on international duty with Ukraine in October 2024. The substance is prohibited because of its potential effects on cardiovascular performance and stamina.

CAS stated that the sample contained “a low concentration” of meldonium and highlighted that changes have since been made to World Anti-Doping Agency guidance on the substance. The court noted that the updated rules are not applied retroactively but said that if the same test had been carried out under today’s limits, “the concentration of meldonium in the sample would not have been reported” and no adverse finding would have been recorded.

Chelsea welcomed the decision and said they were eager to help Mudryk return to full fitness.

The club said they were looking forward to getting him “back into the squad and back on to the pitch,” with the winger set to join their pre-season preparations.

Mudryk also expressed his appreciation to everyone at Chelsea and said he was excited for “the next chapter” of his career as he prepares to return to football.