Chelsea Star Abandons Football for Athletics Ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games
- A Chelsea star has considered switching from football to athletics ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics
- The midfielder was provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance
- The player has failed to represent his country and club since November 2024, and might return after serving his ban
Mykhailo Mudryk is eyeing a spot in the Ukrainian Athletics team ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
The English Football Federation provisionally suspended the 24-year-old after a failed drug test in December 2024.
The FA confirmed a positive test from the 2024/25 season on June 18, 2025, after traces of meldonium, a prohibited performance-enhancing substance.
Source: Getty Images
Chelsea subsequently issued an official statement regarding Mudryk's status. The Premier League giants wrote:
"We can confirm that Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged with Anti-Doping Rule Violations alleging the presence and/or use of a prohibited substance, in terms of Regulations 3 and 4 of The FA's Anti-Doping Regulations. As this is an ongoing case, we are not in a position to comment further at this time," per Express.
The Ukrainian midfielder joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 for £88million.
Mudryk plans for the future
According to Tribuna, Mykhailo Mudryk is set to swap his football boots for track spikes, with his sights now firmly set on representing Ukraine as a sprinter at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The 24-year-old has already begun training under the guidance of former Olympians. However, to secure a spot on the Olympic team.
The midfielder must first meet the World Athletics qualifying standards and successfully pass the Ukrainian national trials in 2027.
Mudryk, who reached a blistering top speed of 36.67 km/h during his Premier League debut, is now looking to channel that explosive acceleration into a shot at Olympic glory.
Source: Getty Images
Mixed reactions trail Mudryk's decision
@TiezzUtd said:
"Some people would genuinely rather run 100m than running through 3 people and slapping it top right in the Champions League final, finishing it off with a knee slide in front of people who are screaming your name?"
@Hollumuyiwa1 wrote:
"As much as i sympathise with Mudryk and i really want to see him playing football again, i think he can make it too as a sprinter because he's obviously got the speed to be successful there."
@gemspecialist01 added:
"If Mudryk really did switch to sprinting, do you think he could compete with the world’s fastest runners?"
@Clytheronix said:
"Crazy switch from football to sprinting but if anyone can pull it off Mudryk has the speed it will still take years of training to compete at Olympic level."
Mikel Obi speaks on Mudryk suspension
Legit.ng earlier reported that Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel has weighed on the ongoing failed drug test incident involving winger Mykhailo Mudryk after he was provisionally suspended.
The club confirmed that they received a notification from the FA that a sample provided by Mudryk during a random urine test contained a banned substance.
Source: Legit.ng
