Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has tested positive for a banned substance, the Premier League club confirmed in a statement on Tuesday.
The Blues say that the Football Association informed them regarding an “adverse finding in a routine urine test.”
The Ukrainian claims he did not knowingly consume any prohibited substances, and Chelsea says it will investigate the cause of the test result.
“This has come as a complete surprise to me as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or violated any regulations, and I am collaborating closely with my team to understand how this could have occurred,” Mudryk said on Instagram.
“I am confident that I have not done anything wrong and remain optimistic that I will return to the field soon.” He added.
The specific banned substance detected in Mudryk’s test remains unknown.
The 23-year-old last appeared for Chelsea on November 28 and has been sidelined for the last five matches across all tournaments.
He was part of the matchday squad for Chelsea’s victory over Aston Villa on December 1 but did not participate. Head coach Enzo Maresca had publicly indicated that Mudryk’s absence was due to illness.
Mudryk, who transferred from Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk in a deal worth up to £89 million in 2023, has netted ten goals in 73 matches for Chelsea.
