Good news! Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk has been given the green light to return to football, says the FA.
Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk is now allowed to get back to playing football right away after facing the biggest ban in Premier League history, the FA has announced.
The Ukrainian player was first suspended in December 2024 after testing positive for meldonium, a banned substance. In April 2026, he was given a four-year ban.
Mudryk appealed with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and got help from Morgan Sports Law, who have worked with famous athletes like Paul Pogba and Tyson Fury before.
Because of changes to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) rules, Mudryk can now return to football, even though he accepted that he broke anti-doping rules. These new rules mean that if his sample had been taken today, it would not have been considered a violation.
Mudryk is set to join Chelsea’s team in Hong Kong for their pre-season games.
The FA said: “We confirm that the anti-doping case against Mykhailo Mudryk was settled with WADA’s agreement on July 30, 2026. Mudryk admitted to breaking the rules and accepted the suspension time he has already served.”
They explained that Mudryk tested positive after a test in October 2024 and was suspended right after. After a hearing in early 2026, he was banned for four years but later appealed. Since the WADA rules changed, the ban was reconsidered, and Mudryk was cleared to play again immediately.
Chelsea added: “We know how important it is for him to come back. Our main goal now is to support Misha as he gets back with the team and resumes his career. Everyone at Chelsea is excited to help him get fit and back on the pitch.”
Mudryk hasn’t played since a win over Heidenheim in November 2024. At first, the manager said he was out because of illness before the suspension was confirmed.
He has been training at non-league club Uxbridge FC’s facilities but is still under contract with Chelsea until 2031. Since joining in January 2023 for £88.5 million, he has made 73 appearances for the club.