Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has been placed under provisional suspension after testing positive for a banned substance during a routine anti-doping test. The Premier League released a statement on Tuesday claiming they found an “adverse finding in a routine urine test.” It said Mudryk “has confirmed categorically that he has never knowingly used any banned substances.”
Mudryk has yet to appear in a Chelsea match since playing and scoring in their UEFA Conference League victory over Heidenheim on November 28. According to The Athletic, Mudryk tested positive for the use of banned substances after his return to Ukraine from international duty in mid-November.
The head coach, Enzo Maresca, said the player had since been ill. But after several Ukrainian media outlets leaked the news of his provisional suspension, both the club and player were forced to make statements.
The Ukrainian said: “I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules, and I am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened.”
What has Mykhailo Mudryk tested positive for?
The Athletic reports that Mudryk has tested positive for meldonium. According to the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), meldonium is an anti-ischemia drug used to help people
With underlying heart conditions such as low blood flow to the heart and chest pains or discomfort. In terms of athletic utilization, it increases endurance and the ability to recuperate from exercise.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve the use of the drug in the United States and it can be only prescribed in some parts of Europe. Since 2016, the leagues have prohibited the use of this drug and added it to the banned list.
Mudryk’s statement read: “I can confirm that I have been notified that a sample I provided to The FA contained a banned substance. This has come as a complete shock, as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules, and I am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened.”
How are the tests conducted and what could be the punishment?
Players’ blood and/or urine are tested as part of a doping test to ensure they are not abusing any illegal drugs or techniques. Players may be asked to participate in doping control at any time by the English Football Association’s (FA) Anti-Doping Unit, which oversees the anti-doping program for all FA tournaments.
You may be tested for drugs at any time and anywhere, such as at home, during a training session, or after a game. You might be tested more than once during the season and will be required to submit a urine and/or blood sample.
According to the testing guidelines of the FA, after returning an adverse finding in the ‘A’ sample, he has been provisionally banned. If the ‘B’ sample also returns positive, Mudryk could face a lengthy ban that could last from two to four years.
Which athletes have been caught using Meldonium?
As per the New York Times, over 60 athletes have tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance, including world champions and Olympic medalists.
In March 2016, Maria Sharapova, the tennis superstar and former world No. 1, tested positive for meldonium and later admitted to usage of the drug. Her 24-month punishment was eventually lowered to 15 months after an appeal.
Russian boxer Alexander Povetkin’s heavyweight title fight against Deontay Wilder in May 2017 was cancelled nine days before the event after the Russian tested positive for meldonium, which had been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) from the start of 2016.
Which footballers have tested positive in the past?
Plenty of players have been caught failing the dope test.
Earlier this year, officials found elevated levels of testosterone, a hormone that assists the player with better endurance, in France and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba. He was placed under a four-year ban, which was later reduced to a retrospective 18 month-ban which Pogba will have completely served at the end of this year. However, the 2018 World Cup winner is yet to find a club.
A former Chelsea goalkeeper, Mark Bosnich, failed a drug test in 2002 for usage of cocaine during his time with them and was later transferred to Manchester United.
Andre Onana, also a goalkeeper, tested positive for furosemide in 2021 and was slammed with a 12-month ban from UEFA, a drug used for water retention.
The most high-profile player caught in the doping net was Diego Maradona, who tested positive for cocaine in 1991 and was later caught for ephedrine in 1994, which put an end to his football career.
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