Suspended Mudryk wants to prove innocence with 'successful lie detector test'

Mykhailo Mudryk’s career has taken an unexpected turn as he finds himself at the centre of a doping investigation that could potentially sideline him for years.

The 24-year-old Chelsea winger last featured for the club in November of last year, shortly before news emerged that he had tested positive for meldonium, a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Since then, Mudryk has been under provisional suspension, barred from training and playing while the investigation runs its course.

Meldonium, originally developed to treat heart conditions, gained notoriety in the world of sports after being classified as a performance-enhancing drug in 2016. It is believed to increase stamina and recovery, giving athletes an unfair advantage. Many high-profile athletes have tested positive for the substance in the past, and its detection in Mudryk’s system has raised serious questions about the player's conduct. However, Mudryk maintains that he has never knowingly taken anything illegal and insists that there has been some kind of mistake or misunderstanding.

Mudryk’s transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk to Chelsea in January 2023 was one of the most talked-about deals in European football. Valued at €70 million, with potential bonuses taking the total to €100 million, Chelsea viewed him as a key piece in their ambitious rebuilding project. Known for his explosive pace, technical ability, and flair, Mudryk was seen as a rising star in European football. His promising start in the Premier League, however, has now been overshadowed by these doping allegations, casting a cloud over his career at a crucial stage of his development.

In his bid to clear his name, Mudryk has taken the extraordinary step of undergoing a lie detector test, something rarely seen in professional football. According to Sergei Palkin, general director at Shakhtar Donetsk, Mudryk passed the test successfully, and the results will be presented as part of his defence. "He doesn’t understand how this happened," Palkin explained. "He’s genuinely confused and distressed. His legal team advised him that a lie detector test could help support his claim of innocence, and he agreed immediately. The outcome of the test was positive, and we believe it supports his stance that he did not intentionally take any banned substances."

Lie detector tests, while not admissible in all legal proceedings and often viewed with skepticism, can serve as supplementary evidence in certain cases. Mudryk’s camp hopes that this will help sway the decision in his favour, especially given the lack of clear motive or pattern of doping in his career. It is still unclear whether the football authorities or anti-doping bodies involved in the case will give weight to this type of evidence.

The stakes could not be higher. If found guilty of intentional doping, Mudryk could face a suspension of up to four years, which would not only stall his career but also severely damage his reputation. For a player at the beginning of what promised to be a stellar trajectory, such a punishment could be devastating. On the other hand, if Mudryk manages to prove his innocence, it could set a precedent in how players defend themselves in complex doping cases, especially with unconventional methods like lie detector tests.

Chelsea, for their part, have remained relatively quiet on the matter, offering little public comment but reportedly providing legal support to the player as he navigates the investigation. The club invested heavily in Mudryk, and losing him for an extended period would be a significant blow, both sporting and financial.

As the investigation continues, Mudryk has largely kept out of the public eye, focusing on his defence and staying in shape privately. Fans remain divided, with some expressing unwavering support for the Ukrainian winger, while others are more cautious, waiting for the full facts to emerge.

This saga adds yet another chapter to football's complex relationship with doping, a topic that continues to generate controversy and debate. Whether Mudryk will emerge from this ordeal with his name cleared or face the harsh realities of a doping ban, the coming months will be crucial, not just for his career, but for his standing in the football world.