Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk has not played since 2024, and now he faces a very long ban from all football due to breaching doping rules.
And if he never plays for Chelsea again, the club will save huge sums of money.
Read: Jose Mourinho leaves Newcastle waiting in suspense – dream return to Real Madrid accelerates
Back in December 2024, it emerged that Mudryk was temporarily suspended by the English Football Association (FA). He had tested positive for the banned substance meldonium. The Ukrainian had already been out of Chelsea’s squad for a long time. The details of the case were kept secret, and then manager Enzo Maresca claimed that Mudryk was absent due to illness.
But on Wednesday afternoon, the news came: Mudryk has been banned for four years – the maximum sentence from the FA.
The test that gave the result was a urine sample from 2024 taken just before Mudryk was due to go on national team assignment.
Meldonium, which was found in his body, may have significant cardiovascular benefits. It increases oxygen uptake, shortens recovery time and improves the metabolism of fatty acids – all to improve performance.
The violation gives Mudryk a record-long ban, but he has appealed to have the sentence overturned. Now it is the Sports Court that has the last word.
Chelsea don’t have to pay – Shakhtar loses millions
Mudryk was brought to Chelsea for £88 million from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023. He still has a contract until 2031 after signing a huge deal of eight and a half years.
Now Shakhtar’s director Sergei Palkin has revealed the huge financial consequences – both for them and for Chelsea.
The agreement between the clubs meant that Chelsea would pay £61 million upfront, with potentially an extra £27 million in bonuses if certain conditions were met.
If Mudryk never plays for Chelsea again, the “Blues” will not have to pay the balance to the Ukrainian giants – who consequently miss out on a fortune.
“We have 30 million euros in bonuses in his contract. If he doesn’t play, or Chelsea don’t get results, we lose 30 million euros,” Palkin told journalist Ben Jacobs.
“This is a major financial burden for us. Everyone hopes that this story will end as soon as possible with a positive outcome, and that Mudryk will return to the field. If not, we risk losing 30 million euros.
“I know Mudryk as a player and as a person. I think he will come back and start playing again. Everyone is now waiting for the court’s decision – but we don’t know when it will come, or when the final verdict will be made.
Read on F7: The thousand kroner is saved for now!
Denies everything – hopes for a reduced sentence
Mudryk denies having done anything wrong. He is represented by Morgan Sports Law – the same firm that worked with Paul Pogba when he too received a four-year ban.
The former Manchester United star had his suspension reduced to 18 months on appeal, and has since returned to football with Monaco.
Mudryk’s last game was in the Conference League against Heidenheim in November 2024. Since the ban, he has not been allowed to train with the team.
Instead, he has been training individually on a track in Uxbridge to stay in shape.
In his only statement on the matter, Mudryk described the initial suspension as “a complete shock” and stressed that he has “done nothing wrong.”
“I can confirm that I have been told that the sample I gave to the FA contained a banned substance,” he wrote on Instagram.
“This has come as a complete shock, as I have never knowingly taken banned substances and have not broken any rules. I’m working closely with my team to find out how this could happen.
“I know I’ve done nothing wrong and I hope to get back on the pitch soon. Right now, I cannot say more due to the duty of confidentiality in the case, but I will make a statement as soon as I can.
Since the ban is backdated, Mudryk will be able to make a comeback in December 2028 – if the maximum sentence stands.
CAS has informed the BBC that no hearing is yet planned, but that the parties are “currently exchanging written submissions”.
Mudryk has made 73 appearances for Chelsea and scored 10 goals.
