Mykhailo Mudryk, the Chelsea FC winger, has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to overturn the four-year doping ban handed to him by the Football Association.
The 25-year-old Ukraine international has been out of action for nearly 18 months following an adverse result in a routine urine test, which led to a provisional suspension in December 2024.
After being formally charged in June 2025, Mudryk received the maximum four-year suspension, although the FA has not made public the specifics of the case.
Typically, such bans are applied retroactively from the start of the provisional suspension, meaning his current return timeline would fall around December 2028. However, sources close to the player believe the appeal could potentially shorten that period, raising hopes of a return as early as next season.
CAS confirmed to BBC Sport that it received Mudryk’s appeal against the FA on 25 February 2026. The case is currently in the written submission phase, with no hearing date scheduled yet.
Reports indicate Mudryk may have been exposed to the banned cardiovascular drug meldonium known for boosting stamina and respiratory efficiency while on international duty with Ukraine in October 2024.
Since joining Chelsea in January 2023 for an initial €70 million (£61 million), Mudryk has not featured in a competitive match since November 2024.
When his suspension was first announced, he expressed shock and insisted he had never knowingly taken any prohibited substances or violated regulations.
He is being represented by Morgan Sports Law, the same firm that has handled high-profile cases involving Paul Pogba, Tyson Fury, and Chris Froome.
Despite the ongoing case, Mudryk is reportedly maintaining his fitness by training privately at Uxbridge FC with a personal coach and hired goalkeepers as he pushes for a return to football within the year.
Chelsea have declined to comment while proceedings continue, and the FA has also stated it cannot speak on an active case. Mudryk’s legal team has yet to issue a further statement