Chelsea have confirmed they have been contacted by the Football Association after winger Mykhailo Mudryk returned an adverse result in a routine urine test.
The Ukraine international, who has made 15 appearances for the Blues this season, denies knowingly taking any banned substances.
A Chelsea statement read: “Chelsea Football Club can confirm that the Football Association recently contacted our player Mykhailo Mudryk concerning an adverse finding in a routine urine test.
“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.”
The Athletic, quoting several sources, reported Mudryk tested positive for meldonium after playing for Ukraine in November. Meldonium can aid an athlete’s recovery from strenuous exercise and was added to the World Anti-Doping Authority’s (WADA) banned list in January 2016.
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Mudryk said on social media: “I can confirm that I have been notified that a sample I provided to The FA contained a banned substance.
“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.”
Mudryk, who has missed Chelsea’s last five games with the club citing illness, joined the West Londoners from Shakhtar Donetsk last January for a fee that could rise to £88million. He has struggled to hold down a regular place in the first team and has, this season, largely played in the second-string side that has competed in cup competitions.
