Chelsea's Mykhailo Mudryk has been provisionally suspended from football after being notified of a positive drugs test by the Football Association, according to a new report.
The 23-year-old winger, who has not featured for Chelsea since their Europa Conference League match against Heidenheim on November 28, has been unavailable for selection due to a suspected adverse analytical finding.
That's according to the Daily Mail, who understand the probe is thought to centre around a contaminated supplement.
"FA rules state that a player notified of a test result can then be provisionally suspended," the report adds. "They then have the chance to respond with an explanation before a decision is made on a potential charge."
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It is also suggested that Mudryk had taken a test in August which was clear, and his behaviour had not changed since. Chelsea are thought to have launched an investigation.
Mudryk has since addressed the situation via a social media post.
"I can confirm that I have been notified that a sample I provided to The FA contained a banned substance," he said on Instagram.
"This has come as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules, and am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened.
"I know that I have not done anything wrong and remain hopeful that I will be back on the pitch soon. I cannot say any more now due to the confidentiality of the process, but I will as soon as I can."
It is also claimed that the potential contamination may have happened outside the country because the substance involved is not available in UK.
Mudryk is waiting on the result of a ‘B’ sample and whether or not it confirms the findings of his ‘A’ sample.
On Tuesday morning, Chelsea released a statement on their official website regarding the situation involving Mudryk.
"Chelsea Football Club can confirm the Football Association recently contacted our player Mykhailo Mudryk concerning an adverse finding in a routine urine test," they wrote.
"Both the Club and Mykhailo fully support The FA’s testing programme and all our players, including Mykhailo, are regularly tested. Mykhailo has confirmed categorically that he has never knowingly used any banned substances.
"Both Mykhailo and the Club will now work with the relevant authorities to establish what has caused the adverse finding. The Club will not be commenting any further."
Mudryk joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 in a deal worth up to £89 million. He penned an eight-and-a-half-year contract with the Premier League club.
SPORTbible has reached out to the FA for comment.
Topics: Chelsea, Premier League, Mykhailo Mudryk
Jack Kenmare