Mudryk Appeals Secret FA Four-Year Doping Ban to CAS

Overview

• Mudryk, who filed his appeal on February 25th, triggered public disclosure when CAS confirmed it had the case.
• The FA issued a four-year sanction in January under its confidential anti-doping policy, so only a small circle at Chelsea and around the player were told.
• The FA has not named the substance, though BBC reporting links it to meldonium, a heart drug banned by WADA since 2016 for potential endurance gains.
• Mudryk has been provisionally suspended since December 2024 and could be out until about December 2028 if the sanction stands, though CAS can reduce or modify bans as seen when Paul Pogba’s four-year penalty was cut to 18 months.
• Unable to train with Chelsea, Mudryk works with a private coach and rents Uxbridge FC’s pitch, while his 2031 contract leaves Chelsea weighing options that range from termination after the CAS outcome to retaining his registration for a future sale, with outside pundits only speculating on a reduced return date and fee.