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Chelsea have confirmed they have been contacted by the Football Association after winger Mykhailo Mudryk returned an adverse result in a routine urine test.
The Ukraine international, who has made 15 appearances for the Blues this season, denies knowingly taking banned substances.
A statement from Chelsea read: “Chelsea Football Club can confirm that our player Mykhailo Mudryk was recently contacted by the Football Association regarding an adverse result in 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 consumed any prohibited substance.
“Both Mykhailo and the club will now work with the relevant authorities to establish what has caused the adverse finding.
“The club will not make any further comments.”
The Athletic, citing multiple sources, reported that Mudryk tested positive for meldonium after playing for Ukraine in November. Meldonium can aid an athlete’s recovery after strenuous exercise and was added to the World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) list of banned substances in January 2016.
Mudryk said on social media: “I can confirm that I was notified that a sample I provided to the FA contained a banned substance.
“This has come 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 haven’t done anything wrong and I hope to get back on the field soon. “I can’t say anything more now due to the confidentiality of the process, but I will do so as soon as I can.”
Mudryk, who has missed Chelsea’s last five games for the club through illness, joined the west Londoners from Shakhtar Donetsk last January for a fee that could rise to £88m. He has struggled to maintain a regular place in the first team and, this season, has played largely in the secondary team that has competed in cup competitions.
