Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is facing a potential ban of up to four years after being charged by the Football Association (FA) with anti-doping violations. The 24-year-old Ukrainian international was provisionally suspended in December 2024 after a positive drug test. The prohibited substance detected was reportedly meldonium.

The FA released a statement confirming the charge, stating that Mudryk is accused of violating anti-doping rules regarding the presence and/or use of a prohibited substance. Due to the ongoing nature of the case, the FA has refrained from further comment.

Mudryk has denied any wrongdoing, expressing complete shock at the initial positive test result. He asserted that he has never knowingly used any banned substances. Chelsea launched their own investigation and supported the player's claim that he has never intentionally taken any prohibited substances. Mudryk's legal team maintains his position and will not be commenting further due to the confidentiality of the proceedings.

The positive test occurred after Mudryk's international duty with Ukraine in November 2024. He was absent from Chelsea for four games before his suspension was publicly announced. Chelsea's manager at the time, Enzo Maresca, initially cited illness as the reason for Mudryk's absence.

Since joining Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 for a reported £88 million, Mudryk has struggled to secure a regular spot in the team, scoring just 10 goals in 73 appearances across all competitions.

In other news, Trent Alexander-Arnold made his debut for Real Madrid in their Club World Cup match against Al-Hilal, which ended in a 1-1 draw. The English defender, who recently joined the Spanish giants, played 65 minutes before being substituted. Gonzalo Garcia scored for Real Madrid, while Ruben Neves equalized for Al-Hilal. Despite the draw, Alexander-Arnold described his debut as a "dream come true."

However, Alexander-Arnold's debut was met with mixed reviews. Some Spanish media outlets were critical of his performance, highlighting defensive errors. Marca noted his weak duel that led to Al-Hilal's offside goal and expressed bewilderment at his positioning during an Al-Hilal counterattack. Other reports suggest his teammates were left speechless by his performance.

Real Madrid's coach, Xabi Alonso, had reportedly identified areas for Alexander-Arnold to improve upon after his first training session. Despite the criticism, Alexander-Arnold expressed his delight at making his debut for Real Madrid. The match also marked Xabi Alonso's first game in charge of Real Madrid. The game also saw a missed penalty from Federico Valverde in the dying moments, adding to the disappointment for the Spanish side.