A shocking development today, as Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk failed a drug test, and now finds himself indefinitely suspended.
“Chelsea confirm the Football Association recently contacted Mykhailo Mudryk concerning an adverse finding in a routine urine test,” reads a club statement. Mudryk has been out of action lately, with what was officially a labeled an illness.
Chelsea FC vs Shamrock Rovers FYIs
Competition: UEFA Europa Conference League Matchday 6 of 6
Kickoff: Thurs Dec. 19, 8pm, Stamford Bridge, London, UK
Chelsea Preview Content: Team News League Title Contender Analysis Starting XI Prediction
UECL Position, Form: Chelsea 1st, 15 pts, GD +17, WWWWW Shamrock Rovers 6th, 9pts +4 GD, DWWDW
Blues Team News
However, was he really that sick? Or was this a cover story? Or something in between or both? No matter the case, we won’t be seeing Mudryk feature for awhile.
Also suspended, but for domestic competition only are Marc Cucurella Saseta (two yellow card sending off) and Pedro Lomba Neto (yellow card accumulation).
Both are eligible to feature against Shamrock Rovers in the Conference League, as this is UEFA competition.
Getting to the injury front, Joao Felix Sequeira should be back here, from his unspecified injury issue. But the news is much worse for defender Benoit Badiashile, he is ruled out, with a problem that has been undisclosed.
Not much is known about when he might be back.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Washington Post and ESPN. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.