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According to BBC Sport, Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against a four-year doping ban imposed by the English Football Association (FA).
The Ukrainian footballer has been out of action for nearly 18 months after an “adverse result in a routine urine test” led to a provisional suspension in December 2024. He was formally charged in June 2025 and subsequently received the maximum four-year ban, according to a spokesman for CAS, the highest legal body in sport.
The FA has not made the details of the case public.
In such cases, penalties are usually calculated from the date of the initial suspension, which means that Mudryk could return around December 2028. However, sources close to the player are optimistic that he could return to the field as early as next season, depending on the appeal decision.
In a statement to BBC Sport , CAS confirmed: “ CAS confirms that it has received the appeal from Mikhailo Mudrik against the FA, lodged on 25 February 2026. The parties are currently exchanging written submissions and a hearing has not yet been scheduled .”
According to the BBC, Mudrik is suspected of having come into contact with the cardiovascular drug meldonium during his engagement with the Ukrainian national team in October 2024. This substance can increase respiratory capacity and physical endurance.
Mudryk, who joined Chelsea in January 2023 for an initial fee of €70 million, has not played an official match since November 2024. In his only public reaction after the suspension, he expressed "complete shock" and stated that he "has never knowingly used banned substances and has not broken the rules."
His legal defense is being handled by the Morgan Sports Law firm, which has previously represented Paul Pogba, Tyson Fury and Chris Froome in similar cases.
According to sources, the player aims to return to the field this year and is maintaining physical shape by training with the amateur team Uxbridge FC, under the guidance of a personal trainer.
Chelsea have declined to comment until the process is complete, while the FA has said it cannot provide information on an ongoing matter. Mudrik's legal team has also been contacted for comment.
Mudryk has consistently denied any doping violations. During his time with Chelsea, he made 73 appearances and scored 10 goals.
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