Chelsea receive rare Mudryk update

Suraj Radia

1 Apr 2026 09:52 BST
4 min read

Mykhailo Mudryk, Chelsea, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Mykhailo Mudryk has been struggling to cope with the ban that has seen him disappear from football for more than 16 months, according to the Shakhtar CEO who has remained close to the Chelsea winger.

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Mudryk has not played football since November 2024 after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium and the 25-year-old was charged with anti-doping violations by the FA which could lead to a suspension for up to four years.

Current ETV

Mykhaylo Mudryk

F, M (L)

Chelsea

Mykhaylo Mudryk

F, M (L)

Chelsea

ETV Range

€34M - €41.6M

The Ukrainian international has been left in limbo while waiting for a ‘B’ sample, having maintained his innocence throughout, and there has been no formal announcement of Mudryk’s fate since the FA’s ban in June 2025.

The situation has taken its toll on Mudryk according to Sergei Palkin, with the Shakhtar CEO revealing how the forward has been spending his time since his absence.

"He is training, he's training by himself because the FIFA rules say you cannot stay in the camp," Palkin told football.london. "He dedicates almost the whole day to train and to keep himself in a good level, physically and mentally.

"The mood is not so good at this moment but he believes everything should be good and he will return to football as fast as possible."

Mudryk fate to be revealed ‘as soon as possible’

Mudryk joined Chelsea from Shakhtar for €70 million in January 2023 and, while he was slow to adapt to life in England, his form was improving prior to the incident which brought his career to a screeching halt.

Despite the delay, Mudryk is hoping for a resolution soon and could even be sent to Chelsea's affiliate club Strasbourg on loan upon his return, which his contract at Stamford Bridge still running until 2031.

© IMAGO - Mykhailo Mudryk has not been allowed to train with Chelsea during his ban.

Mudryk has kept a low profile during his absence, although he has come into the news on occasion for incidents such as a ban from an online game, and Palkin insisted that a solution will be found ‘as soon as possible’.

"For me, what has happened is a pity because I'd never seen a player like Mudryk," Palkin said. "I remember him from our academy. He was a hard worker, he was a tough guy and he trained much, much more than other players. He stayed after training.

"For me, it's a big pity what has happened because this guy did everything in his life to stay on the top level. It's not fair what's happened to him now, and I believe that his lawyers will find solutions and he will return to football as soon as possible.

"From time to time I arrive to London and I meet with him, and I support him because for me, it's very important that he feels that he has people behind him, who support him.”

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