Enzo Maresca breaks his silence over Mykhailo Mudryk’s positive drugs test as he offers support to suspended Chelsea footballer
- The winger received the full support of the Italian manager amid the turbulent news
- It is believed that Mudryk has tested positive for the banned substance meldonium
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Enzo Maresca insists Chelsea have full confidence in Mykhailo Mudryk and says they believe the 23-year-old Ukrainian can prove his innocence to return from suspension.
The £89million winger has not been part of the Blues’ squad for the last four games as it is revealed he has been suspended following a positive drugs test.
Maresca was asked about Mudryk during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday before facing Shamrock Rovers in the Conference League on Thursday.
For the first time since the news broke, the 44-year-old Italian said: ‘We trust Misha. We support him. What Misha said, and what we said, is that we trust Misha and support Misha.
‘We are all angry and sad. I spoke to him a few days ago. He cannot train at the moment. We wait. The club is here to support the player.
Mykhailo Mudryk has been given a provisional suspension after a positive drug test
Enzo Maresca gave his full support to the player in his first press conference since the news broke
The Ukrainian is awaiting the findings of his ‘B’ sample after ‘A’ sample returned positive
‘There is nothing to add except the club, the staff supports and trusts Misha.
‘It’s general support. We trust Misha. When things like this happen, you have to support your player in all aspects. Misha is a Chelsea player. It is my duty to be in touch with him. Me, the club, the player.’
When asked directly whether he believes Mudryk is innocent, Maresca said: “We all believe that. And then we’ll see.’
Maresca had previously attributed Mudryk’s absence to illness. Under FA rules, a player who is informed of a positive test result may be provisionally suspended. They then have the opportunity to respond with an explanation before a decision is made on any charges. Positive test results could lead to a four-year ban and Chelsea are said to have launched their own investigation.