We Believe He’s Innocent – Chelsea Head Coach, Maresca Reacts to Mykhailo Mudryk’s Ban

Chelsea's head coach, Enzo Maresca, has publicly declared his unwavering belief in the innocence of Mykhailo Mudryk, following the player's provisional suspension by the Football Association (FA) for failing a drugs test.

The Ukrainian forward tested positive for meldonium, a banned substance, and now faces the possibility of a four-year ban from football. Despite the gravity of the situation, Maresca has expressed full trust in Mudryk, emphasizing the club's commitment to supporting him through this challenging period.

Maresca stated, "We believe Mykhailo Mudryk is innocent. We all support him and trust that he will be cleared of any wrongdoing." This sentiment reflects the collective stance of Chelsea, as both the club and Mudryk himself have been proactive in addressing the issue.

Chelsea has launched its own investigation into the matter, while Mudryk maintains that he has never knowingly used any banned substances. He insists that the positive test result was due to contamination, as he had passed a routine anti-doping test back in August and had not altered his diet since then.

The FA's rules dictate that once a player is informed of a positive test, they must be provisionally suspended before a formal charge is decided. During this period, Mudryk has the opportunity to provide an explanation for the result. Currently, he is on an individual training program at home, away from Chelsea's Cobham training ground, and is reportedly devastated by the news.

Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo also commented on the situation, revealing that the squad learned about Mudryk's suspension at the same time as the public. "It was news to all of us," Adarabioyo said. "We found out the same time as you. We support him. There is not much we can do but he is part of our family."

The case highlights the strict liability nature of anti-doping regulations, where players are held responsible for any prohibited substances found in their bodies, regardless of how they got there. Sky Sports News chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol explained, "What's important in this case is the 'A' sample has tested positive. We are still waiting for the result of the 'B' sample, so I think that is very important for Mykhailo Mudryk."

Mudryk, who joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023 for a staggering $108 million, has made nine appearances for the club this season, although he has only played once in the Premier League. The forward expressed his shock and disbelief on social media, stating that he is in a state of complete shock and hopes to return to the pitch soon. He remains confident that he will be cleared, citing strong evidence to support his position.

Enzo Maresca reiterated the club's support for Mudryk, saying, "The club, coaching staff, and everyone in the training ground will support him. General support. We trust him - when these kinds of things happen, you need to support the player. He is a Chelsea player and is one of the players involved in the squad, so it is my duty to be in contact with him. We are all there."

This incident is not unprecedented in the world of sports, and Maresca acknowledged that similar situations have occurred before and will likely happen again. "It is not the first time this has happened. It will happen again for different players, they know exactly what they have to do and this is why we trust and support him," he added.

As the football community awaits the outcome of the 'B' sample test, Chelsea and Mudryk continue to work closely with the relevant authorities to determine the cause of the adverse finding. Both parties have expressed their full support for the FA's testing program, underlining their commitment to maintaining the integrity of the sport.