On November 28, Mykhaïlo Mudryk (23 years old) played 90 minutes in the 2-0 victory against Heidenheim in the Europa Conference League. Author of a goal, the Ukrainian did not know it, but he had played his last match before perhaps a very long time. Indeed, since his release in C4, he has been on the Chelsea bench twice before being officially absent due to “illness”. But on December 17, the Ukrainian press revealed that the former Shakhtar Donetsk man was missing due to a positive doping test. Information confirmed a few hours later by the residents of Stamford Bridge, via an official press release.
“Chelsea Football Club can confirm that the Football Association recently contacted our player Mykhailo Mudryk regarding an abnormal result during a routine urine test. The club and Mykhailo fully support the FA testing program and all of our players, including Mykhailo, are tested regularly. Mykhailo categorically confirmed that he never knowingly used any banned substances. Mykhailo and the club will now work with the relevant authorities to establish what caused the abnormal result. The club will make no further comment.” In the process, Mudryk came out of silence to reveal his truths about this dark affair.
He juggles work and spending time with loved ones
“I know I did nothing wrong and I remain hopeful that I will return to the field soon. I cannot say more now due to the confidentiality of the process, but I will as soon as possible. I can confirm that I have been notified that a sample I provided to the FA contained a prohibited substance. This comes as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules, and I am working closely with my team to determine how this could have happened.” Supported by his club and by Enzo Maresca, who assured him of his support at a press conference, the footballer, who risks 4 years of suspension if the B sample confirms the first tests, has been silent since.
But the Ukrainian media reported on his news. Thus, we learned that he has retained the services of the law firm Morgan Sports Law. A team of specialists in doping cases in sport, which had recently defended Paul Pogba. Deprived of football, Mudryk, who has therefore missed 7 matches in all competitions, continues to train while waiting to be determined on his situation. This Friday, the Ukrainian publication AU reveals that he prepares in particular in a gym in Lisbon, where he works with Benfica players, notably António Silva and Tomas Araujo. The 23-year-old also took the opportunity to attend the wedding of his compatriot Anatoly Trubin.
Ukraine is concerned about Mudryk
A few days before (Sunday, editor’s note), he was seen in Saudi Arabia at the boxing fight between Oleksander Usyk and Tyson Fury. Asked to comment on his situation and the management of the player’s free time, Enzo Maresca confided: “Right now, it’s also good that he can disconnect from the situation a little. The last time I spoke to him, we tried to support him. Now we just wait.” On the Ukrainian side, we are in a bit of the same situation. The national coach, Serhiy Rebrov, also mentioned this unfortunate affair in the columns of Tribuna. “Yes, I spoke to him. For us, each player is very important and Mykhaïlo is very upset. I don’t want to go into details. Nothing is official at the moment.”
He added: “Our position is that we will support the player, we will fight for him. And I only wish Mykhaïlo patience. I want him to really understand that we support him and that we will do everything to make it as short as possible, because he is a very important player for the Ukrainian national team.” In the country, he is not the only one to be concerned about the Chelsea player. Former national team player Oleg Shelayev admitted: “I tend to think that this will not happen without his disqualification. Now it is important to make efforts so that he does not find himself outside of football for long.”
