Temi kings
Chelsea FC, Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been officially cleared to return to competitive football after his four-year doping suspension was completely rescinded. The Football Association confirmed on Friday, July 31, 2026, that the anti-doping disciplinary proceedings against the 25-year-old winger have been formally resolved in agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mudryk had originally received a four-year ban after returning a positive test for trace amounts of meldonium during an out-of-competition control in October 2024. However, advancements in WADA’s scientific reporting standards for laboratory testing established that had his original sample been analyzed under today’s technical criteria, it would not have resulted in an anti-doping rule violation.
With his suspension lifted with immediate effect, Mudryk is set to fly out on Sunday to join up with Chelsea’s first-team squad for their ongoing pre-season tour in Hong Kong. The Ukrainian international maintained individual fitness during his hiatus by training with semi-professional London outfit Uxbridge FC and will now begin a structured conditioning program under Chelsea’s medical staff. Mudryk is slated to be available immediately and could make his long-awaited return to the pitch as early as August 5, when the Blues take on Juventus in a high-profile pre-season friendly at Hong Kong Stadium.
Chelsea Football Club issued an official statement welcoming the resolution, reaffirming their steadfast backing of the player throughout the lengthy appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The club expressed joy at bringing “Misha” back into the fold, noting that their immediate objective is assisting his reintegration into the squad and getting him back to full match fitness ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign. Mudryk also released an emotional statement on social media, expressing deep gratitude toward his legal team, Chelsea FC, his teammates, and the fans who believed in his innocence while maintaining that he had never knowingly or intentionally consumed any banned substances.
