Enzo Maresca has publicly voiced his full support for Mykhailo Mudryk following the news of the Chelsea winger’s provisional suspension due to a failed doping test. Mudryk, 23, revealed yesterday that he had received notification of an adverse result from a routine urine test conducted by the Football Association. The player is now awaiting the results of a B sample to confirm the initial findings.
Should the second sample corroborate the adverse result, Mudryk could face a potential four-year ban. However, both Mudryk and Chelsea have firmly stated that the player “has never knowingly” taken a banned substance and was shocked by the test’s outcome.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s UEFA Conference League match against Shamrock Rovers at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, Maresca emphasized the club’s unwavering support for Mudryk. “The situation is clearer now as we have a statement from the club,” said Maresca. “There’s nothing more to add unless the club, coaching staff, and everyone within the training ground express their support and trust in Misha. We trust Misha. When things like this happen, it’s important to support the player in every way possible. Misha is a Chelsea player, and he is very much involved in the squad, so it’s my duty to stay in contact with him.”
The Italian coach also addressed the emotional impact the news had on the team, adding, “We are all upset and sad about it. At the moment, he can’t train, but the club is fully supporting him in every aspect.”
Maresca reassured the media that there is no clear timeline for when Chelsea and Mudryk will receive the results of the B sample. Nonetheless, he expressed confidence in Mudryk’s innocence and insisted that even in the worst-case scenario, a long suspension would not mark the end of the player’s career at Chelsea. “I don’t think this is the end of his career at Chelsea,” Maresca said. “He’ll be back. We don’t know when yet, but for sure, he will be back.”
Mudryk, who joined Chelsea in a high-profile £89 million move from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023, has been under contract until the summer of 2031, earning close to £100,000 per week. While his Premier League appearances have been limited, he has scored three goals in European competition prior to the suspension.
In his own statement yesterday, Mudryk confirmed the news of the failed test, expressing his shock and disbelief. “I can confirm that I have been notified that a sample I provided to The FA contained a banned substance,” Mudryk said. “This has come as a complete shock, as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules. I am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened. *I know that I have not done anything wrong and remain hopeful that I will be back on the pitch soon. I cannot comment further at this moment due to the confidentiality of the process, but I will provide more information as soon as I can.”
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