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Chelsea have confirmed that the Premier League side have been contacted by the English Football Association over “an adverse finding” in a routine urine test from forward Mykhaylo Mudryk. The Ukrainian international hasn’t featured for Chelsea in the English top-flight since November 10, having been out with an illness. In a statement from the player, Mudryk confirmed that he had been notified by the authorities but pleaded his innocence, claiming that he “never knowingly used any banned substances”. 

“Chelsea Football Club can confirm that the Football Association recently contacted our player Mykhailo Mudryk concerning an adverse finding in a routine urine test,” read a statement on the club’s website. “Both the club and Mykhailo fully support The FA’s testing programme and all our players, including Mykhailo, are regularly tested. Mykhailo has confirmed categorically that he has never knowingly used any banned substances. Both Mykhailo and the club will now work with the relevant authorities to establish what has caused the adverse finding. The club will not be commenting any further.”

The player echoed much of what his club stated in a personal statement online. “I can confirm that I have been notified that a sample I provided to the FA contained a banned substance,” said the Chelsea player in a statement (via Fabrizio Romano). “This has come as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules, and 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 say any more now due to the confidentiality of the process, but I will as soon as I can.”

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