EPL: MUDRYK APPEALS FOUR-YEAR DOPING BAN AT CAS

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By: Balogun Ibrahim

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has appealed his four-year doping suspension at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to restart his football career.

The 25-year-old has been out of competitive action since November 2024 after returning an adverse result in a routine urine test, which led to his provisional suspension a month later.

The Football Association charged Mudryk in June 2025 before imposing the maximum four-year ban, though full details surrounding the case were not made public.

Under standard procedure, the suspension is usually backdated to the date of the provisional ban, meaning the Ukrainian international would ordinarily be eligible to return around December 2028.

However, sources close to the player believe the appeal could pave the way for an earlier comeback, potentially as soon as next season.

Confirming the appeal on Wednesday, CAS told BBC Sport that Mudryk filed his case against the FA on February 25, 2026, and that both parties are currently exchanging written submissions, with no hearing date fixed yet.

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According to reports, Mudryk is believed to have come into contact with meldonium — a cardiovascular drug known to enhance stamina and respiratory performance — while on international duty with Ukraine in October 2024.

The winger, who joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 for an initial fee of €70m (£61m), has not featured in a competitive fixture since the suspension.

When the provisional ban was first announced, Mudryk expressed shock at the development, insisting he had never knowingly taken any prohibited substance or violated anti-doping regulations.

His defence is being handled by Morgan Sports Law, the same legal firm that represented Paul Pogba during his doping case at Juventus, as well as boxer Tyson Fury and cyclist Chris Froome in previous investigations.

Mudryk is reportedly determined to return to football this year and has been maintaining his fitness by training privately at non-league side Uxbridge FC alongside hired goalkeepers and a personal coach.

Chelsea have declined to comment while the legal process remains ongoing, and the FA also stated it could not speak on an active case.