Mykhailo Mudryk is eligible to return to competitive action with immediate effect after the anti-doping disciplinary proceedings against him were resolved, bringing an end to a lengthy case that had kept the Chelsea winger out of action since November 2024.
The announcement from The FA and Chelsea on Friday confirmed that Mudryk is no longer ineligible, with the four-year ban he had been hit with in April 2025 now rescinded. It is a major turning point for a player who had not represented Chelsea since a 2-0 win over Heidenheim in the Conference League on November 28, 2024.
The ban is over, but the background remains serious
The FA said the adverse finding involved a low concentration of meldonium from an out of competition test. It also said that changes to the WADA Technical Document TD2027MRL mean that, while not retroactive, the same concentration would not be reported as a positive test today and no Anti-Doping Rule Violations would have resulted.
That matters because it explains why the case has now been closed and why Mudryk can return immediately. The practical outcome is straightforward: he is free to play again.
Mudryk says the ban has been rescinded
Mudryk responded by saying: “After a long battle, the four-year ban that was imposed on me has been rescinded and I am free to resume my career with immediate effect.”
He added that he was grateful the process had reached a conclusion and that he had been cleared to return to football. He also said: “This has been the most difficult period of my career.”
In the same statement, Mudryk maintained that he had never knowingly or intentionally taken any banned substance and said his commitment to competing fairly and representing his club and country with professionalism and integrity had always been important to him.
What Chelsea said next
Chelsea described the period as extremely difficult for Mudryk both professionally and personally, and said it was pleased the matter had reached a conclusion that allows him to return to football with immediate effect.
Mudryk joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 in a deal worth €70million plus €30m in potential bonuses, and signed until 2031. His most recent appearance for the club came in November 2024, followed by an unused substitute role against Aston Villa on December 1, 2024.
The immediate question now is simple: how quickly can he get back into match rhythm after such a long absence? For Chelsea, the return of a player signed for the long term gives Enzo Maresca another attacking option at a time when every fit senior player matters. For Mudryk, the priority is to turn a difficult off-field chapter into a footballing reset.
