Chelsea Boss Enzo Maresca Backs Mykhailo Mudryk Amid Positive Meldonium Test Scandal

Mykhailo Mudryk’s Shock Meldonium Suspension

Chelsea fans woke up to a surprising headline: Mykhailo Mudryk, one of the club’s brightest prospects, has been provisionally suspended after a routine anti-doping check turned up traces of meldonium, a banned substance. The Chelsea winger, who joined as a high-profile signing, is now facing the fight of his career, with his club and manager standing firmly beside him as investigations ramp up.

The positive test came from a sample collected back in October. The result was only recently made public, and it immediately sent shockwaves through Stamford Bridge and the wider football community. At just 23, Mudryk is at risk of losing up to four years of his career, should the suspension be upheld. Meldonium, once a staple supplement among Eastern European athletes, was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list after evidence emerged linking it to performance enhancement. Mudryk, though, says he never knowingly took anything illegal, calling the whole thing a ‘complete shock.’

Enzo Maresca and Chelsea Show Solidarity

As the social media storm brewed, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was quick to speak out. Addressing the situation, he didn’t hesitate to voice his support for Mudryk. Maresca told reporters that both he and the club “trust and support” Mudryk, emphasizing that they’re committed to getting clarity. He admitted he encouraged Mudryk to switch off from the headlines and focus on his well-being while the process unfolds. “We’re all waiting for the results of the ‘B’ sample. The most important thing right now is to understand what really happened,” the manager said, describing the environment around the Ukrainian winger as one of backing and patience.

This isn’t the first time a top athlete’s career has hung in the balance over meldonium. The drug’s ban in 2016 snagged several big names across sports, notably tennis star Maria Sharapova. Its presence in a sample, however, doesn’t always mean intentional cheating—sometimes athletes claim it was from contaminated supplements or old prescriptions. That’s the case Mudryk is expected to make as Chelsea’s legal and medical teams gather every shred of evidence. If the ‘B’ sample confirms the initial test, and unless he can prove no significant fault or negligence, the Ukrainian could be sidelined from all competitions for years.

Chelsea initially left Mudryk out of the matchday squad, citing illness, before the truth about the test emerged. Since then, teammates and support staff have rallied around him. While the FA’s investigation remains ongoing, there’s no clear timeline for when Mudryk or the club will learn his fate. For now, he’s suspended from all football activity by the FA’s provisional order, a standard procedure when a banned substance shows up. The club, meanwhile, continues with normal operations, gearing up for crucial Premier League fixtures without one of their fastest, most explosive attacking threats.

All eyes are now on the results of the ‘B’ sample and the FA’s next steps. While the football world waits, the focus remains on fairness, due process and the young winger’s future. The story highlights both the importance of strict anti-doping measures and the psychological impact these cases can have on players and their clubs.