The Ukrainian has not played a competitive football match since November 2024 after being suspended by the Football Association
Chelsea winger Mykhaylo Mudryk has dropped the biggest hint yet that he could be set to return to football as he waits for the outcome of his appeal against a drugs ban.
On July 16, the 25-year-old uploaded a post to his verified Instagram page, where the Chelsea winger teased an update suggesting his 19-month exile is potentially coming to an end. An image of Mudryk playing football on a training pitch was accompanied by the caption: “Stay tuned.”
It is not the first time Mudryk has posted footage of himself playing football since he was banned from football in December 2024. However, the caption appears to suggest a decision may be imminent concerning his future.
Mudryk, who joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk for an initial £61 million deal in January 2023, has not played a competitive match since November 2024. After being prohibited from training with his club, he has been keeping fit by working with a private coach and hired goalkeepers at non-league Uxbridge FC.
Mudryk submitted an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against a doping ban imposed by the Football Association. The foraward has been sidelined since a routine drugs test returned an ‘adverse finding’, which led to his provisional suspension in December 2024.
According to the BBC, Mudryk came into contact with the cardiovascular medication meldonium, which can increase respiratory capacity and stamina, while on duty with the Ukraine national team in October 2024. Meldonium has been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) since January 1, 2016.
The Ukrainian was charged in June 2025 and handed the maximum penalty by the FA, which entails a four-year suspension from all sports. However, the FA has never disclosed further details about the case or ascertained why Mudryk was banned.
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In a statement, reported by the BBC in April this year, the CAS said: “CAS confirms it has received an appeal by Mykhailo Mudryk against the FA, filed on 25 February 2026. The Parties are currently exchanging written submissions, and a hearing is yet to be scheduled.”
If Mudryk was to serve the entirety of his ban, he would be free to play again in December 2028 as bans are backdated to the initial point of suspension. At that point, he would still have 30 months left to run on his Chelsea contract, which is due to run until June 2031.
But with the appeal process currently going through the CAS court in Switzerland, Mudryk could return to action before then if the ban is reduced or even eradicated. Sources cited by the BBC as being ‘close to the player’ are optimistic that he will return to action soon.
Mudryk has only made one public statement since his shock suspension from football. In a lengthy post, he protested his innocence, describing “complete shock” and insisted he had “never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules”.
He is being represented by UK law firm Morgan Sports Law, who have worked with former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, boxer Tyson Fury and cyclist Chris Froome while they faced their own separate investigations.
Football.london has approached Chelsea and Morgan Sports Law for comment.
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