Mudryk hires lawyers to save £89 million Chelsea transfer after positive test

Shakhtar Donetsk officials have refuted reports that they plan to sue the Ukrainian Football Federation (UAF) for potential lost earnings following Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk’s positive drug test.

Mudryk has been suspended since news emerged last year that he had provided a positive sample believed to contain the performance-enhancing drug meldonium.

The winger was charged by the Football Association in June and faces a possible four-year ban if found guilty of the violation.

Mudryk, who has declared his innocence, signed for Chelsea from Shakhtar in 2023 in a deal that could have reached up to £89 million.

This was contingent on Mudryk fulfilling clauses in the deal worth an estimated £26 million, which are unlikely to be met due to his ongoing suspension.

Reports in Ukraine suggested Shakhtar were considering suing the UAF over potential lost earnings from the deal.

This came amid reports from the BBC that Mudryk had come into contact with meldonium while on duty with the Ukraine national team.

The UAF did not deny this but emphasized that none of their staff had been involved.

Shakhtar chief executive Sergei Palkin, speaking to the BBC, dismissed claims of a lawsuit and stressed that their primary concern is the well-being of their academy graduate.

’Based on the information available to me, I simply cannot understand the circumstances that led to it,’ he said.

’I have been in contact with the UAF. I asked them to support Mudryk and requested that the lawyers handling this case respond responsibly and without delay.

’This situation affects the image of Ukraine and Ukrainian football as a whole. That’s why, if there is any opportunity to help him, we must do so.

’I don’t know where that information [about potentially suing the UAF] came from. It’s nonsense. This idea has no basis whatsoever.

’I remain hopeful that this process with Mudryk will be resolved as quickly as possible, and that he will return to the pitch to continue his career.’

Mudryk hired Morgan Sports Law to serve as his representatives in an effort to save his career, with the Ukraine international maintaining he has never knowingly broken any rules.

In a statement posted on his Instagram in December last year, Mudryk said: ’I can confirm that I have been 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 any banned substances or broken any rules, and am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened.

’I know that I have not done anything wrong and remain hopeful that I will be back on the pitch soon. I cannot say any more now due to the confidentiality of the process, but I will as soon as I can.’