For 16 months, Mykhaylo Mudryk has been absent from Chelsea FC. His doping ban has recently been set at four years. The Ukrainian player, without a jersey number, has become a symbol of the madness at the Blues.
Despite their recent respectable comeback, 1. FC Heidenheim might still face relegation to the 2. Liga. By then, 18 months will have passed since the club from Brenz hosted Chelsea FC in the Conference League. Indeed, that’s how quickly things can change in professional football.
For Mykhaylo Mudryk, this period has likely felt excruciatingly slow. In November 2024, the Ukrainian played his last match on Heidenheim’s Schlossberg, even scoring a remarkable goal to seal the Blues’ 2-0 victory.
The offensive winger was 23 years old at the time. Now, at 25 since January, he hasn’t set foot on the pitch because he tested positive for a doping violation while on duty with the Ukrainian national team in autumn 2024. Traces of Meldonium, a banned cardiovascular medication that can enhance respiratory capacity and endurance, were found in his urine.
As a consequence, the English Football Association (FA) initially imposed a provisional ban on him in December 2024. Mudryk’s B sample also tested positive, leading to charges by the FA. According to media reports, a decision has now been made: Mudryk has received the maximum four-year ban for doping offenses. The 28-time international has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The Mudryk Case Symbolizes Chelsea’s Insanity
The Mudryk case, therefore, quite fittingly symbolizes the madness that sometimes transpires at Chelsea. An incredibly bloated squad, the close connection with Racing Strasbourg via the BlueCo investment group that has drawn criticism not only from fans, numerous managerial sackings, and a sporting drought – continuity is light-years away from Stamford Bridge.
And amidst all this turmoil, Chelsea carries – admittedly unintentionally, but it fits the narrative – a player banned for over 16 months. His contract runs until 2030 (with an option for Chelsea for another year), and he reportedly earns €100,000 per week. However, Chelsea cannot be blamed for a player’s alleged doping offense.
Detractors might argue anyway: if Mudryk serves his four-year ban, he will still have two years left on his contract. However, this is unlikely, as Chelsea has the option to terminate the contract if he is officially banned by the FA.
Mudryk at Chelsea: Eight Coaches in 39 Months
This is what happened to doping offender Paul Pogba at Juventus Turin. Mudryk is legally represented by the law firm ‘Morgan Law,’ which also defended Pogba and successfully reduced his initial four-year ban to 18 months in October 2024 after a CAS panel accepted the French international’s argument that he had unintentionally ingested the banned substance.
Mudryk has now missed nearly 100 games, recently surpassing the 500-day absence mark. Interim coach Calum McFarlane is already the eighth coach during Mudryk’s 39-month tenure as a Chelsea player.
It’s not out of the question that Mudryk could play for Chelsea again under the ninth manager. Of course, he would first have to be acquitted, but previous precedents have at least shown that the 16 months he has already served would be credited. Therefore, there is a possibility that he could return to the field immediately after an acquittal.
Mudryk’s Solitary Training Sessions: ‘As if he were in Premier League Form’
Mudryk has been preparing for this «Day X» since his ban began. A report from the French sports daily *L’Equipe* recently offered insights into his daily life, also mentioning wild rumors circulating about Mudryk. One suggests that if his ban is upheld, he could become an Olympic 4×100-meter runner or work as an Uber driver.
More accurately, it is known that Mudryk, who is reportedly fond of the video game ‘Counter-Strike,’ trains daily on his own, having hired a dedicated team, including a goalkeeping coach. He has done this a few times at FC Uxbridge, a club from the seventh-tier Southern Football League. Training at Chelsea is forbidden for him, after all.
In early April, a reporter from *The Athletic* witnessed one of these solitary training sessions at the Honeycroft stadium. According to the report, even Uxbridge players were unaware that a professional player, who cost Chelsea €70 million in transfer fees in January 2023, was training at their facility. The outlet noted the Ukrainian’s physical condition, stating, «As if he were in Premier League form.»
Mudryk No Longer Has a Jersey Number at Chelsea
However, the possibility of Mudryk ever wearing the Blues’ jersey again is very slim. Just last summer, wingers Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho, and Estevao Willian were signed for a significant amount of money. Mudryk’s number was also taken away when Cole Palmer switched from 20 to 10. Currently, he doesn’t even have one.
Furthermore, in his 73 competitive appearances for Chelsea so far – under three different managers – Mudryk has not convinced. While he has scored ten goals and provided eleven assists, he has consistently struggled to find form and consistency under the demanding requirements of the Premier League.
«Please don’t give up on me, just as I don’t give up on myself,» he asked his fans in one of his rare Instagram statements at the beginning of the year. Among Chelsea supporters, a brief glance at social media shows this has not happened. They see Mudryk as just one of many symptoms of their ailing club.
Mykhaylo Mudryk: Performance Data at FC Chelsea
| Competitive Appearances | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 73 | 10 | 11 | 9 |