Chelsea star charged over anti-doping violation
CHELSEA WINGER Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged by England's Football Association with violating anti-doping rules after failing a drugs test.
Mudryk has not played for Chelsea since November 28, following his provisional suspension by the FA for an 'adverse finding in a routine urine test' in December.
The Ukrainian international at the time said he was in 'complete shock' and he 'never knowingly used any banned substances'.
But Mudryk could face a potential ban of up to four years under FA rules.
Confirming the 24-year-old has been charged with the offence, an FA statement on Wednesday said: 'We can confirm that Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged with anti-doping rule violations alleging the presence and/or use of a prohibited substance, in terms of regulations three and four of the FA's anti-doping regulations.
'As this is an ongoing case, we are not in a position to comment further at this time.'
Signed from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023, Mudryk was reported to have had the prohibited performance-enhancing substance meldonium in his positive test.
Advertisement
Chelsea launched their investigation into the doping allegation last year and had been waiting for the results of the 'B' sample test to support or contradict the initial 'A' results.
Earlier this month, Mudryk's number 10 shirt was given to Cole Palmer for next season, leaving the Ukrainian international without a squad number at Stamford Bridge.
The positive test was returned shortly after he had been away on international duty with Ukraine in November.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca initially said the winger was ill when asked to explain the four-game period he was absent from the team prior to the suspension being made public.
Mudryk last featured in the Chelsea squad as an unused substitute for their 3-0 Premier League win against Aston Villa on 1 December.
His time at Chelsea has been dogged by inconsistency, with erratic performances only occasionally offset by flashes of his ability.
Mudryk has scored just 10 goals in 73 appearances in all competitions for the Blues.
He made only one Premier League start last season in a win over Wolves in August.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Premier League talking points: Mohamed Salah eyes hot start against Cherries
No St Stephen's Day game The festive period is always one that Premier League fans look forward to. Forget the turkey on Christmas Day, the wacky jumpers and the unwanted gifts from family you see once a year, the football over Christmas and New Years' is always a period that supporters look forward to. However, Premier League aficionados would have been quick to note that there is presently NO football scheduled for December 26th. This could prove a disaster. After dealing with the Christmas Day formalities, there is nothing better than sitting on the sofa for hours with leftover sandwiches to really kick off the most wonderful time of the year. As things stand, fans will have to make do with gameweek 17 on December 20th followed by gameweek 18 a week later. Fixtures are, of course, subject to change given domestic and continental duties, and we're hoping the Premier League will see sense and restore the Boxing Day schedule to help round off the year in style. Good omen for Chelsea fans? After wrapping up a Champions League finish on the final day of the season, Chelsea supporters will have taken a keen interest to their start to Enzo Maresca's second campaign at the Stamford Bridge helm, pointing on how they'll fare after European action in the opening months of the campaign. Funnily enough, Chelsea open up the season with four successive London Derbies as they face Crystal Palace, West Ham, Fulham and Brentford. That, though, isn't the quirk that supporters should take note of. The Blues wrap up the season with a trip to newly-promoted Sunderland next May. Could this prove a good omen for Chelsea? On the final day of both the 2014/15 and 2016/17 seasons, the west London side beat Sunderland and lifted the Premier League title. While little from last season suggests they have what it takes to rival Liverpool for the title, the Chelsea faithful are hoping history repeats itself and they again claim all the spoils against Sunderland to go on to lift their sixth Premier League title. Arsenal's opening day trip to Old Trafford Arsenal don't have the easiest start to the Premier League season. The Gunners will take on three of last season's top seven sides, while they travel to Old Trafford and welcome newly-promoted Leeds in their opening five matches. It's the opening weekend trip to Manchester United, though, that should be of concern to the Gunners. United, despite their issues in recent years, are opening-day specialists. Indeed, they have won more opening-day fixtures (22) than any other team in Premier League history, and have the best opening-day win rate (66.7%) in the competition. After a disappointing second half of the season for Ruben Amorim, the Portuguese boss can hit the ground running with victory over Arsenal. A further issue for Arsenal is that the opening weekend of the new season will see the north London side make the trip to Old Trafford for an August fixture for the first time since 2011. United fans remember that day fondly as goals from Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young, Danny Welbeck, Nani and Park Ji-sung wrapped up a famous 8-2 win. Arsenal could do without a similar result as they look to finish top of the pile this time around. Tottenham vs Chelsea in November We all know the story. Ange Postecoglou made a flying start to life in the Premier League, claiming 26 points across the opening 10 league games in charge as Tottenham sat top of the table and the future looked bright for Spurs. However, everything unravelled in early November 2023 as the north London side capitulated to lose 4-1 to Chelsea. Spurs raced into an early lead and were a VAR offside review away from doubling their advantage against the Blues. However, Brennan Johnson's strike was ruled out, and it proved a sliding doors moment for the club. Postecoglou's side capitulated as Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie received their marching orders either side of half time. Nine-man Spurs pushed high to the halfway line but ultimately crashed to defeat. Thomas Frank has a favourable start in north London, and it's feasible to suggest that Spurs make another fine start to the campaign before a welcome of Chelsea in early November. Supporters have already seen this story play out before and will hope to avoid a repeat in Frank's debut campaign. Super Salah goes again Fresh from signing a new deal with Liverpool, Mohamed Salah will be looking trump his fine individual season as the Reds look to defend their crown. Salah, along with captain Virgil van Dijk, extended their respective stays at Anfield, as Egyptian King, who turned 33 last weekend, celebrated a title winning campaign in style. Salah, who finished top for both goals (29) and assists (18) in England's top tier last term, is famous for his sprint starts to a Premier League campaign. The Reds man has scored in seven of his eight season openers, totalling nine goals, more than any other player. That he'll come up against one of his favourite Premier League opponents suggests he should maintain that record come August. Liverpool and Bournemouth get the season up and running in two months' time as they pair meet under the Anfield floodlights. Salah has previous with the Cherries, who have lost Dean Huijsen and are expected to lose Milos Kerkez and Illia Zabarnyi to Liverpool and PSG, respectively. Bournemouth are Salah's third favourite Premier League opponent having scored 11 goals in 10 meetings with the south coast side. Home comforts to benefit Arsenal? Arsenal will be out to be the bride rather than the bridesmaid next season having finished second in the last three campaign. While supporters are picking apart the fixture list, home comforts could prove decisive in the run in. There is work to be done for Arsenal to really compete for the title but they don't leave London in the final five weeks of the season as they welcome Newcastle, Fulham and Burnley to the Emirates, and travel to West Ham and Crystal Palace to round off 2025/26. Home advantage may just give them the edge in the title race.
Irish Independent
4 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Death toll rises to 28 after massive Russian attack on Kyiv
Emergency workers yesterday pulled more bodies from the rubble of a nine-storey Kyiv apartment building demolished by a Russian missile, raising the death toll from the attack on the Ukrainian capital to 28. The building in Kyiv's Solomianskyi district took a direct hit and collapsed during the deadliest Russian attack on Kyiv this year.
The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
LA Lakers owner Jeanie Buss agrees to sell NBA team for $10 BILLION in shock announcement
A FIVE-DECADE sports dynasty is ending at the Los Angeles Lakers as the team is being sold for a staggering $10 billion. The Buss family is offloading their majority ownership in the team after 46 years and multiple national titles. Advertisement 7 Jeanie Buss owns the LA Lakers and is selling it for around $10 billion Credit: Getty 7 Jeanie Buss talks to LA Lakers superstar LeBron James courtside Credit: X 7 Buss' dad Jerry purchased the team in 1979, and passed it to her when he died Credit: Getty It is being purchased by LA Dodgers owner Mark Walter, He is the CEO of diversified holding company TWG Global and also has stakes or majority ownership of multiple other sports franchises. Jeanie Buss, who has been the face of the family's ownership since 2013, will still continue in her role as Lakers governor. The $10 billion deal is the largest sale ever of a professional sports team in the world. Advertisement READ MORE ON THE LAKERS Walters also owns the MLB giants and World Series-winning Dodgers. He also has stakes in the Los Angeles Sparks and the Billie Jean King Cup. His portfolio also includes the Cadillac Formula One team and the Professional Women's Hockey League. Walters also has shares in Premier League soccer giants Chelsea. Advertisement Most read in Basketball The LeBron James-led Lakers have been owned by the Buss family since 1979. Patriarch Jerry Buss purchased the franchise for a relatively paltry $67.5 million at the time. LeBron James drops major retirement hint as NBA legend mulls over future at the LA Lakers That was the equivalent of around $315 million today. The move also included the Los Angeles Kings and the LA Forum. Advertisement Buss passed it down to his children when he died in 2013. His daughter Jeanie has been governor ever since. 7 She has had a highly successful tenure ever since and became the first woman to ever lead an NBA championship team. Advertisement Mark Cuban sold a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks for $3.5 billion. And Wyc Grousbeck offloaded the Boston Celtics for $6.1 billion. The Lakers have won seven NBA Finals under the Buss family's ownership. Advertisement That includes legendary teams of the past led by Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. They created a dynasty that inspired the hit HBO show Winning Time. 7 Buss in the arms of legendary Lakers icon Shaquille O'Neal Credit: Getty 7 Magic Johnson, Jeanie Buss, Rob Pelinka, Kobe Bryant, and his family pose in 2017 Credit: Getty Advertisement 7 Bryant with Buss in 2011, before his tragic death in a helicopter accident Credit: Getty Walters has been a stakeholder in the Lakers since 2021. He also received a right of first refusal on the majority share of the team at the time. Lakers fans reacted with shock at the news, which was revealed on social media. Advertisement "This is a historic day," one said. "Mark Walter owns the Dodgers. One of the biggest spenders in baseball," another explained. "I'd imagine this is a good thing for the future of the Lakers too. "Deep pockets in LA now for the Luka Doncic era." Advertisement
