Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against a four-year drugs ban imposed by the Football Association.
The Ukrainian international, 25, had been provisionally suspended since December 2024 following an adverse finding in a routine urine test, and was formally charged in June 2025 before receiving the maximum four-year ban.
CAS confirmed: “CAS has received an appeal by Mykhailo Mudryk against the FA, filed on 25 February 2026. The parties are currently exchanging written submissions, and a hearing is yet to be scheduled.”
Truthlive News International understands Mudryk came into contact with the cardiovascular medication meldonium which can increase respiratory capacity and stamina while on duty with the Ukraine national team in October 2024.
Since bans are typically backdated to the start of the provisional suspension, his current return date would be around December 2028. However, sources close to the player are hopeful he could return to action as early as next season.
Under FA anti-doping Regulation 77 justifies a four-year ban applies if the violation relates to a non-specified substance, unless the player can establish the violation was not intentional.
Mudryk is being defended by Morgan Sports Law, the firm that previously worked with Paul Pogba, Tyson Fury, and Chris Froome in their respective doping cases.
Mudryk, who joined Chelsea for an initial €70m in January 2023, has not played a competitive match since November 2024. He has maintained he has “never knowingly used any banned substances.”
