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6 hours ago
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Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged by the Football Association (FA) with a doping offence and now faces a potential ban for up to four years.
The Ukrainian international was provisionally suspended in November 2024 after failing a doping test. The Football Association contacted Chelsea on ‘an adverse finding in a routine urine test’.
The substance found in his ‘A’ sample was reported to be Meldonium, a performance-enhancing drug that was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s prohibited list on January 1, 2016.
Mudryk joined Chelsea for a deal worth up to £89 million ($11,96,37,805) after beating London rivals Arsenal to his signature in January 2023.
The Ukrainian had signed an eight-and-a-half-year contract deal, which will run until June 2031.
Since joining the club, Mudryk has had an underwhelming impact on the club, having played 73 games whilst only racking up 10 goals and nine assists so far.
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What Mudryk’s suspension could mean for Chelsea
Chelsea are in the middle of a busy transfer market and have prioritised the signing of a new left winger in the ongoing transfer window.
The Blues decided not to extend Jadon Sancho’s loan at the club, and now the news of Mudryk’s suspension is certain to take the search for a new winger to even greater heights.
Enzo Maresca’s team have been in negotiations for Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens for a while now, and the player is keen on a move to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have also earmarked Mohammed Kudus as a possible replacement for Gittens if they fail to agree a deal with the German club.
The news of Mudryk’s suspension does come as a blow to Chelsea, but it is unlikely that the Blues will be reeling from it for a long time.
If everything goes to plan, Chelsea will have a replacement for the Ukrainian international before the end of the window, and then Mudryk will become a distant memory for the fans.
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