25-year-old Chelsea and Ukraine winger Mykhailo Mudryk officially returned to action for the London club, coming off the bench in the 82nd minute of a pre-season friendly against Juventus at the Kaitak Stadium in Hong Kong.
This match marked the Ukrainian’s first competitive outing since November 2024, after he was temporarily suspended due to the detection of a banned substance (mildronate).
Details of the resolution
Good news for the player and the club arrived in late July when the Football Association (FA) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced the closure of the case.
Cancellation of the four-year ban: Initially, in June 2025, the FA imposed a four-year suspension. Mudryk appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), insisting he never intentionally took prohibited substances.
Change in WADA standards: Following updates to WADA’s technical regulations, the concentration of mildronate found in the player’s sample no longer qualifies as a rule violation. Consequently, an agreement was reached to end the proceedings, acknowledging the served time as final.
Manager’s reaction: Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso backed Mudryk, highlighting that the club would assist him in gradually regaining his optimal fitness and adapting to the squad.
Chelsea’s future plans
Mudryk flew into Hong Kong earlier this week, joining the training camp straight away. Despite speculation regarding a potential loan for regular playing time, the winger continues his preparations with Chelsea, where he has a contract until 2031.
Chelsea’s next pre-season fixture is set for Saturday in Jakarta against AC Milan.
