Earlier this week we reported on Mykhailo Mudryk's waiting game as his case sat with CAS. Now the answer is different. The Chelsea winger is no longer ineligible and may return to competition with immediate effect after the FA and WADA resolved the appeal proceedings.
The FA's ruling on Mudryk
The FA said the case was settled after changes to reporting standards and an agreement with WADA. It stated: "Further to that development and to other circumstances of the case, the FA and Mr Mudryk have now - with the agreement of WADA - resolved the appeal proceedings."
The governing body added: "As a part of the agreement, Mr Mudryk accepted that he had committed the ADRVs (Anti-Doping Rule Violations) charged and acceded to a period of ineligibility equal to the time served at the date of the agreement. Mr Mudryk is no longer ineligible and may return to competition with immediate effect."
What changes for Chelsea
This is a major shift for a player who has not played competitively since November 2024. Mudryk had been suspended for four years after failing a drug test that revealed a low concentration of meldonium, a prohibited substance.
Chelsea signed him for £88m from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023, so the club have waited a long time for clarity on a player they invested heavily in. The context around his return is also broader than just the disciplinary ruling. Chelsea are sixth in the current Premier League standings, and their last five results read LWDLL.
Mudryk's last competitive outings showed he could still contribute. He scored once in an 8-0 win over Heidenheim and then posted a 7.7 rating against LASK, followed by an 8.3 rating in the Heidenheim match. Whether he is back in the squad immediately is a separate question, but the eligibility issue is now settled in a way it was not a week ago.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
