Mykhailo Mudryk’s mother has reportedly said the Chelsea winger is being targeted by people seeking to “tarnish” his “reputation”.
The attacker, who said he was in “complete shock” following his provisional suspension by the Football Association (FA) as part of announcement on December 17 that he had provided an “adverse finding in a routine urine test”, is said to have been backed by Inna Mudryk in an Instagram message.
“Misha worked all his life to become a football player,” Tribuna quoted Inna Mudryk to have told her followers. “No-one will ever be able to change this, no matter how hard they try and tarnish Misha’s reputation.”
Club statement: Mykhailo Mudryk.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 17, 2024
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Mykhailo Mudryk provisional suspension
FA guidelines allow players to be provisionally suspended from football following a positive test, with punishments for intentional use of banned substances ranging up to four years under Fifa rules.
On the day of the announcement, Chelsea confirmed that they were aware of the test and were working with Mudryk to establish what had caused the finding.
“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,” Mudryk wrote on Instagram at the time.
“I know that I have not done anything wrong and remain hopeful that I will be back on the pitch soon.”
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Mudryk Chelsea stats
Mudryk has not played for Chelsea since November 28 and had missed five consecutive matches before the news was announced, with Blues manager Enzo Maresca explaining that the Ukraine international had been ill.
The 23-year-old moved to Stamford Bridge from Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk in a deal worth up to £89 million in 2023.
He scored seven times in 41 appearances in 2023/24, while this season he has produced three goals and five appearances in 15 matches, although none of his direct goal involvements have been in the Premier League.
Chelsea have drawn 0-0 at Everton and lost 2-1 at home to Fulham since Mudryk’s provisional suspension started.
Maresca’s side are third in the table and seven points behind leaders Liverpool before their trip to second-bottom Ipswich Town on Monday (7.45pm GMT).
