The contents behind Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk's failed drugs test, which resulted in a provisional ban by the Football Association, have been revealed.
Mudryk's playing future was thrown into uncertainty on Tuesday morning after he was informed by the FA of a positive drugs test, making him unavailable for selection due to a suspected adverse analytical finding.
Mail Sport can now reveal that the banned substance meldonium is believed to be behind Mudryk's failed test, with reports in Ukraine believed to be correct.
The drug is the same drug that former Russian tennis star and multiple Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova previously took and a positive test resulted in a two-year ban in 2016.
Sharapova previously failed a drug test at the Australian Open due to use of meldonium, which is sold under the brand name Mildronate and is a banned performance-enhancing drug.
However, the Latvian scientist who invented the drug – Ivar Kalvins – has explained that the drug should never be used by athletes and was instead designed for 'Soviet super soldiers'.
'When the soldiers have to operate in the mountains, there is a lack of oxygen. The way to protect yourself from harm is to use Mildronate,” he once told WIRED.
Tons of the substance were previously exported to the Russian military, with the scientist also revealing that there were 'a lot of people using it'.
Several Russian athletes have been banned from various sports over the years for using the substance, but its maker is arguing against imposing a ban on athletes because he believes it violates their human rights.
Meanwhile, Mudryk is understood to have undergone a test in August that came back clear and insists he has not changed his behavior since.
Any contamination is believed to have occurred outside the country as meldonium is not available in Britain as it is made in Latvia and is considered a 'metabolic modulator'.
Mudryk is still waiting for the result of a 'B' sample and whether this confirms the findings of his 'A' sample remains to be seen. It is believed that the player cooperates with his club and supports his explanation.
Chelsea shared a statement on Tuesday morning, writing: 'Chelsea Football Club can confirm that the Football Association recently contacted our player Mykhailo Mudryk regarding an adverse finding on a routine urine test.
“Both the Club and Mykhailo fully support the FA's testing program and all our players, including Mykhailo, are tested regularly. Mykhailo has categorically confirmed that he has never knowingly used banned substances. Both Mykhailo and the Club will now work with the relevant authorities to determine what caused the negative finding.
'The Club does not wish to comment further.'
The player himself broke his silence shortly after the club's statement on social media, saying the negative finding had come as a 'complete shock'.
“I can confirm that I have been informed that a sample I provided to the FA contained a banned substance,” Mudryk posted on Instagram.
'This came as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used banned substances or broken any rules, and I am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened.
'I know I have done nothing wrong and remain hopeful that I will be back on the field soon. “I can't say more now due to the confidentiality of the process, but I will do it as soon as possible (blue heart emoji).”
Mail Sport has been in contact with a specialist sports law firm acting on Mudryk's behalf since Friday and has been repeatedly told that the player has not been charged with a doping offence. They have been contacted again for comment.
Mudryk has played just one Premier League match this season, despite being a regular in the Conference League. In his last appearance, at German side Heidenheim, he scored in a 2-0 win.
He has since been an unused substitute against Aston Villa, before being left out of the squad for games against Southampton, Tottenham, Brentford and last week's Conference League trip to Kazakhstan to face Astana.
Mudryk has not been training at Cobham in the meantime.
Speaking to reporters before the 4-3 win over Spurs on December 6, Maresca said: 'The other one [to miss out] who is still ill is Misha Mudryk and the rest are doing well.' On December 15, Maresca told Chelsea's website: 'Carney (Chukwuemeka) after Astana was sick, Chilly (Ben Chilwell) was sick.
“Pedro (Neto) got suspended and then we had Reece (James) and Wes (Fofana) injured, and unfortunately Benoit (Badiashile) felt something in the session yesterday, and Misha (Mudryk) is out too.”
The Blues head coach will next speak to reporters on Wednesday, ahead of the club's Conference League match with Shamrock Rovers on Thursday evening, with Chelsea hosting an open training session on the same day at 3pm.
Mudryk was one of the hottest clubs in Europe when he joined Stamford Bridge from Shakhtar Donetsk early last year for a fee of up to £88 million, with Arsenal among those in the hunt for his services.
Limited by his country, he signed an eight-year contract with his new club in a busy January transfer window. But of his 53 Premier League appearances, only 26 have come as a starter, with the player never quite securing a place in his manager's first team.
Despite a lack of league action this year, Mudryk has made a goal contribution in every league match in Europe, scoring three goals in as many games.
Comments