Mykhailo Mudryk has appealed to Chelsea supporters ‘don’t give up on me’, with the suspended winger hinting at an eventual comeback while he continues to wait for the outcome of his ongoing doping investigation.
The 24-year-old attacker, who completed a £88m transfer to the Blues in January 2023, has not made an appearance since the Europa Conference League fixture on November 28, 2024.
Mudryk was temporarily suspended in December after returning a positive result for a prohibited substance, and the Ukrainian international was formally charged in June 2025.
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Ukrainian media have reported that the substance involved is meldonium — a claim that sources at Daily Mail Sport believe to be accurate.
Since releasing a statement denying any misconduct, Mudryk has largely stayed out of the spotlight, although he has occasionally shared updates with fans on social media.
He recently posted a New Year message to supporters, once again asking them not to lose faith in him.
‘Happy New year to all my fans,’ Mudryk wrote. ‘I just wanted to say thank you for your support.
‘I see all your messages and truly appreciate them, so please don’t give up on me as I not give up on myself. ‘Can’t wait to see you soon.’
If found guilty of the doping offence, Mudryk could be handed a suspension of up to four years.
At present, there is still no confirmed timeline for when his case will reach a conclusion.
Back in November, World Anti-Doping Agency president Witold Banka offered an update on the situation.
‘First of all, we are waiting for a disciplinary decision in his case (from the Football Association of England). As of today, we do not know when it will come,’ Banka said.
‘Then, according to the anti-doping code, we will request the player’s documentation and will decide whether we agree with this disciplinary decision.
‘We can appeal in two cases: if we consider the decision too harsh or too lenient.’
Following his provisional suspension, Mudryk addressed his followers on Instagram, writing:
‘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 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.’
