Chelsea issue statement on Mykhailo Mudryk's positive drugs test after club claimed £88m winger was 'ill'
The club have had their say.
Chelsea have released a statement following the news that Mykhailo Mudryk has returned a suspected adverse analytical finding in a drugs test.
On Tuesday morning, it emerged that the 23-year-old had been unavailable due to a suspected adverse finding.
The Mail reports that the player has been “provisionally suspended” from football after being “notified of a positive drugs test” by the Football Association (FA).
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The Ukrainian has not featured in the Blues’ last five fixtures, having last played in a Europa Conference League match away at Heidenheim on November 28.
"FA rules state that a player notified of a test result can then be provisionally suspended," the report from the Mail said.
"They then have the chance to respond with an explanation before a decision is made on a potential charge."
Enzo Maresca previously explained how Mudryk being 'ill' was the reason for his recent absence.
Speaking before Chelsea 4-3 win against Spurs on December 6, Maresca said: "The other one [to miss out] is still ill is Misha Mudryk and the rest are okay."
The player posted a statement on Instagram shortly after the news broke.
"I can confirm that I have been notified that a sample I provided to The FA contained a banned substance," he said on Instagram.
"This has come as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules and am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened.
"I know that I have not done anything wrong and remain hopeful that I will be back on the pitch soon. I cannot say any more now due to the confidentiality of the process, but I will as soon as I can."
Chelsea Football Club also commented on the matter in a statement posted to their website on Tuesday morning.
“Chelsea Football Club can confirm the Football Association recently contacted our player Mykhailo Mudryk concerning an adverse finding in a routine urine test,” it read.
“Both the Club and Mykhailo fully support The FA’s testing programme, and all our players, including Mykhailo, are regularly tested.
“Mykhailo has confirmed categorically that he has never knowingly used any banned substances. Both Mykhailo and the Club will now work with the relevant authorities to establish what has caused the adverse finding.
“The Club will not be commenting any further.”
SPORTbible have contacted the FA for comment.
Topics: Chelsea, Mykhailo Mudryk, Premier League
Luke Davies