Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk appears to have a chance to return to the pitch earlier than expected. British publication GiveMeSport, citing an insider source, reports that the Ukrainian will not serve the full maximum four-year ban in a doping case.
According to GiveMeSport, Chelsea retain confidence in Mudryk and are already working on a scenario for his return to competitive rhythm. The club, according to a source, plans to send the winger on loan to French side Strasbourg, where the Ukrainian will be able to regain form after a long break.
Strasbourg is part of a pool of clubs affiliated with the BlueCo consortium, which also owns Chelsea, so this route seems logical from the point of view of ownership structure and control over the player.
There are currently no official statements from the English Football Association or Chelsea itself regarding the reduction of the suspension; this is just insider information being disseminated by the media.
In December 2024, it became known that Mykhailo Mudryk had tested positive for doping, after which he was temporarily suspended from football.
The Football Association later formally charged the player with a doping violation, confirming that he tested positive for the banned substance meldonium. Under the FA's jurisdiction, Mudryk could theoretically be banned for up to four years if found guilty.
The Ukrainian has insisted from the very beginning that he never knowingly used banned substances, and the positive test came as a “complete shock” to him. To defend himself in the case, he has hired a specialized law firm that has already worked with high-profile doping cases involving other famous athletes.
The review process is currently ongoing and any decision on the final length of the suspension will be made by the relevant disciplinary body. Reports of a reduction in the maximum possible period are currently based solely on sources close to the club and not on an official verdict.
If the information about the future loan is confirmed, it will be a signal that Chelsea are not counting on writing off Mudryk, but gradually returning him to big football through a less pressured, but competitive championship. Ligue 1 has been used more than once by top clubs as a platform for "restarting" players' careers after injuries or crises.
For the Ukrainian winger, this option would mean a chance not only to restore his playing form, but also to partially rehabilitate his reputation, if the disciplinary authorities really limit themselves to a shorter sentence.
