Shakhtar supports Mykhailo Mudryk in doping scandal: what the club management says.

Shakhtar's position on Mudryk

According to The Sun: Shakhtar's sporting director Dario Srna claims Mykhailo Mudryk is absolutely innocent. This comes after the midfielder received a temporary ban following a positive test for the prohibited substance meldonium at the end of 2024. In June, he was officially charged with violating anti-doping rules.

Mudryk has not stepped onto the field for Chelsea since November 2024, missing important national team matches that could affect Ukraine's chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

There were rumors that Shakhtar plans to sue the Ukrainian Football Association for possible financial damages. However, Srna denied this information, stating:

“When we talk about Mudryk, we do not think about money, we talk about a person. We feel very sorry for him. We know that he is 100% innocent – this will be proven.”

The club's CEO Sergey Palkin confirmed that he supports Mudryk in this difficult time and noted that he does not know how the positive test occurred.

“I do not know where the information about a possible lawsuit against UAF came from. This is nonsense. This idea has no basis.”

Chances of return

Mudryk is working with a law firm that also represented Paul Pogba in his doping case. Although Pogba initially received a four-year sentence, his punishment was reduced to 18 months after an appeal. Currently, Mudryk's options remain uncertain.

Currently, Mudryk remains a member of Chelsea, but does not have a playing number and is the only player depicted in last season's kit on the club's website. This situation highlights the uncertainty of his professional path and the importance of resolving current legal issues.