Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has taken his fight against a four-year doping ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), seeking to overturn the Football Association's suspension.
The 25-year-old Ukraine international has been sidelined for nearly 18 months after failing a routine urine test in December 2024. The FA imposed the maximum four-year ban in June 2025, though the details of the case have never been made public.
Typically, such bans are backdated to the start of the provisional suspension, meaning Mudryk would not be eligible to play until around December 2028. However, sources close to the player express hope that he could return as early as next season if his appeal succeeds.
CAS confirmed receipt of the appeal on 25 February 2026, stating: "The Parties are currently exchanging written submissions, and a hearing is yet to be scheduled."
The BBC understands Mudryk ingested meldonium—a cardiovascular medication that can boost respiratory capacity and stamina—while on international duty with Ukraine in October 2024.
Mudryk, who joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk for an initial €70 million (£61m) in January 2023, has not played competitively since November 2024. In his only public statement after the provisional ban, he expressed "complete shock" and insisted he "never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules."
He is represented by Morgan Sports Law, the firm that successfully defended Paul Pogba, Tyson Fury, and Chris Froome in their respective doping cases. To stay fit, Mudryk trains at non-league Uxbridge FC with a private coach and has hired goalkeepers to practice with.
Chelsea declined to comment, and the FA said it cannot discuss ongoing proceedings. Mudryk's legal team has also been approached for comment.