Chelsea is allowing Mykhailo Mudryk to take a break following his failed drugs test, as he awaits further results and support from the club.
London: Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is currently facing a provisional suspension from football. He recently tested positive for a banned substance after a routine urine test.
To help him cope, Chelsea has given him some time to step back from the situation. Last weekend, he was seen enjoying a boxing match between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, which was a nice distraction.
Mudryk, who’s just 23, insists he never knowingly took anything illegal. He’s determined to clear his name and has the full backing of his manager, Enzo Maresca, and the club. Right now, he’s waiting for the results of a ‘B’ sample test. If it confirms the initial finding, he could face a significant ban.
He’s missed the last eight matches for Chelsea, but that didn’t stop him from flying to Saudi Arabia to support Usyk. Maresca mentioned that it’s good for Mudryk to take a break from all the stress surrounding the situation.
Unfortunately, he’ll miss the upcoming match against Fulham on Boxing Day. Chelsea has a chance to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool, who won’t be playing until later that night.
Maresca believes his young team is doing well but still doesn’t see them as title contenders just yet. He acknowledges that being second in the table at this point in the season is significant, and it reflects their performance so far.
He also praised Liverpool for their strong start, noting that their experience in winning trophies is a big advantage.