Mykhailo Mudryk, who ranks among the most costly football players in history, expressed his overwhelming dismay on Tuesday upon learning that a doping test returned positive for a prohibited substance.
The Chelsea forward, acquired for $108 million from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023, asserted that he never intentionally broke any regulations.
“I can confirm that I have been informed that a sample I provided to The FA contained a banned substance,” Mudryk stated in an Instagram post. “I am confident that I have not done anything wrong and remain optimistic about returning to the field soon.”
Chelsea announced that the 23-year-old player was contacted by the English Football Association following an “adverse finding” in a standard urine test.
The FA refrained from commenting on the situation when reached for clarification, and Chelsea did not disclose whether Mudryk had faced suspension. His last appearance as part of a Chelsea squad was as an unused substitute on December 1.
“The Club and Mykhailo are in complete support of The FA’s testing program. All players, including Mykhailo, undergo regular testing,” Chelsea stated in an official announcement. “Mykhailo has firmly asserted that he has never knowingly ingested any banned substances. Both he and the Club will collaborate with the relevant authorities to ascertain the source of the adverse finding.”
Mudryk participated in nine matches for Chelsea this season; however, he has only taken part in one Premier League game.
According to the FA’s anti-doping guidelines, it is the responsibility of each player to guarantee that no prohibited substances are introduced into their bodies.
When he joined Chelsea as the latest high-profile acquisition under American owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, Mudryk was a highly coveted player in Europe.
Reports suggested that Arsenal was keen on acquiring him before he decided to sign with Chelsea. He was awarded an unusual 8 1/2-year contract, which is uncommon in the sport.
However, Mudryk has struggled to meet expectations and his hefty price tag, securing only 26 starts in league matches to date.