Mykhailo Mudryk: Chelsea winger fails drug test and says he is in ‘complete shock’

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk says he is in “complete shock” after testing positive for a banned substance.

The club confirmed on Tuesday that it had been contacted by the Football Association following an “adverse finding in a routine urine analysis” provided by the Ukraine international.

Mudryk denies ever knowingly using a banned substance and Chelsea say they will work to establish what caused the failed test.

“This has been a complete shock, as I have never knowingly used banned substances or broken any rules, and I am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened,” Mudryk wrote on Instagram.

“I know I haven’t done anything wrong and I’m hoping to get back on the field soon.”

Under FA guidelines, players can be provisionally suspended from football following a positive drugs test.

However, when contacted by BBC Sport, the FA refused to confirm whether Mudryk was now provisionally suspended.

The 23-year-old last played for Chelsea on November 28 and has missed the last five games in all competitions.

He was included in the matchday squad for the Blues’ victory against Aston Villa on 1 December, but did not feature.

Coach Enzo Maresca had publicly said that Mudryk’s absence was due to illness.

Mudryk, who signed from Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk in a deal worth up to £89m in 2023, has scored 10 goals in 73 appearances for Chelsea.