According to The Athletic, Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk is facing a mixed reality: one piece of good news and one potentially career-threatening development. The “B” sample has reportedly confirmed the presence of a banned substance in his system, placing the Chelsea FC player in serious jeopardy.

If the positive doping result is officially confirmed, Mudryk could be hit with a suspension of up to four years under anti-doping regulations — potentially sidelining him until the end of 2028.

However, there is a glimmer of hope. Should Mudryk choose to cooperate fully with the anti-doping authorities and admit to the violation, the suspension could be significantly reduced. In such a case, he may be eligible to return to competitive football as early as the end of 2025.

That said, the worst-case scenario paints a bleak picture. A full four-year ban would effectively rule Mudryk out of action for nearly four full seasons, considering the challenge of regaining match fitness and rhythm after such a long layoff.

Chelsea have yet to issue an official statement on the matter, and further updates are expected once the investigation is finalized.