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CHELSEA’s Mykhailo Mudryk has been seen in Saudi Arabia, just after receiving a suspension for a positive drug test.
The 23-year-old was photographed with a Chelsea fan and YouTuber, who subsequently shared the image online.
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The Chelsea player reportedly traveled to Riyadh to support his fellow countryman Oleksandr Usyk in his notable rematch against Tyson Fury.
The YouTuber, referred to as Shargi, also shared that he had a brief chat with the £88 million winger.
He allegedly conveyed to Mudryk: “Chelsea fans worldwide believe in you and trust that you haven’t taken any performance-enhancing drugs. We cherish you and hope for your swift return.”
The fan recounted Mudryk’s response: “Thank you very much; I am confident everything will be okay.”
The Ukrainian forward tested positive for a banned substance in October, facing a possible suspension of up to four years.
Mudryk has stated he did not intentionally consume meldonium, a substance added to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned substance list in 2016.
This compound has the potential to “enhance oxygen utilization while quickly replenishingenergy levels to meet new physical demands.”
Meldonium is widely used in Eastern Europe and has been prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) since 2016.
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Mudryk released a statement on Tuesday morning claiming that he has never “knowingly ingested any banned substances.”
He expressed: “I have been made aware that a sample I provided to The FA tested positive for a prohibited substance.”
“This came as a shock to me since I have NEVER knowingly consumed any banned substances or breached any regulations, and I am working closely with my team to figure out how this happened.”
Chelsea’s manager Enzo Maresca has openly backed the £88 million signing, showing confidence in Mudryk’s potential return to the team.
He stated: “We all are convinced that Mudryk is innocent.”
“I don’t foresee Misha’s Chelsea career being over. I firmly believe he will bounce back.”
“We don’t know when that will happen; that is our only concern at this time.”
“But undoubtedly, his return is inevitable.”
What substance did Mudryk test positive for?
By SunSport’s Joshua Jones
MYKHAILO MUDRYK tested positive for drugs in October.
The Chelsea winger could face a suspension of up to four years due to the discovery of a performance-enhancing drug.
It is claimed that meldonium was found in Mudryk’s system.
Meldonium, or mildronate, operates as a metabolic modulator similar to insulin and is commonly used in Eastern Europe.
While primarily prescribed for heart disease management, it is thought to aid athletes in coping with higher physical demands, improving oxygen efficiency, and rapidly restoring energy levels.
This drug was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned substances list in January 2016 following its notable utilization at the 2015 European Games in Baku.
Shortly thereafter, Maria Sharapova, former world No. 1 and Wimbledon champion, received a two-year suspension from the International Tennis Federation, which was later shortened to 15 months on appeal.
Sharapova had been using meldonium for ten years for health issues and claimed she was unaware it had been banned.
Moreover, in 2016, Russian boxer Alexander Povetkin tested positive for meldonium just before his match against Deontay Wilder.
