December 18, 2024 at 2:36 AM

Mudryk Breaks Silence: 'I Did Nothing Wrong'

Chelsea and Ukraine winger Mykhailo Mudryk has denied doping allegations, insisting he has never knowingly used banned substances and is cooperating with authorities.

Mudryk Breaks Silence: 'I Did Nothing Wrong'

Mykhailo Mudryk, the 23-year-old winger for Chelsea and the Ukraine national team, has strongly denied doping allegations after testing positive for a banned substance. Mudryk, who joined Chelsea for £89 million, has been temporarily suspended by the English Football Association, pending the results of a second test.

In a statement on Instagram, Mudryk expressed his shock and maintained his innocence: “I confirm I have been informed that a sample I provided contained a banned substance. This news came as a complete surprise to me because I have never knowingly used any prohibited substance or broken any rules. My team and I are working to investigate how this happened. I know I’ve done nothing wrong and hope to return to the pitch soon.”

The Ukrainian international has not played in Chelsea’s last five matches, with his most recent appearance on November 28. Reports suggest that Mudryk attributes the positive test result to contamination, though further details remain unclear.

Chelsea also issued a statement, reaffirming their support for the player and the FA’s testing program: “Chelsea Football Club confirms the FA has contacted us regarding an abnormal result in Mudryk’s doping test. Both the club and Mudryk are fully cooperating with the authorities to determine the cause of this result. No further comments will be made at this time.”

Mudryk has struggled to make an impact since his high-profile transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023. Despite scoring three goals in the Europa Conference League, he is yet to register a goal or assist in the Premier League. The winger’s performances have also seen him fall out of favor under head coach Enzo Maresca.