Mudryk’s doping suspension lifted immediately: the rule change that cleared the Ukrainian winger

In 2024, a trace amount of meldonium—an otherwise banned substance—was detected in Mudryk’s system during a routine anti-doping test. This triggered a four-year ban, prompting the Ukrainian winger to challenge the ruling before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Yet today, under updated World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) guidelines, the same result would no longer have sparked an investigation.

The Football Association (FA) explained in an official statement that the regulations have since been revised. “Even though the result cannot be reassessed retroactively, Mudryk’s positive test would not have led to a suspension today,” the statement read. “The trace level of meldonium found in his sample would not have been flagged, meaning no anti-doping rule violation would have been recorded.”

Given the shift in policy and additional case-specific considerations, the FA and Mudryk reached a mutual agreement, with WADA’s endorsement, to resolve the matter.

As part of this settlement, Mudryk admitted to a violation of anti-doping rules and accepted a completed suspension period. With the ban now served in full, he is free to return to competitive play immediately.