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Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against a reported four‑year ban imposed by the Football Association for a positive meldonium test.Mudryk Files Appeal to CAS Over Four‑Year Doping SuspensionThe appeal was submitted in February 2026 and confirmed by a CAS statement on Wednesday. CAS said it has received the appeal, that the parties are exchanging written submissions, and that a hearing has yet to be scheduled. The FA has declined to comment, and Chelsea has said it will let the process run its course.Key Figures, Transfer Details, and TimelineFour‑year ban – would keep Mudryk out of competitive football until December 2028 if upheld.Provisional suspension began after a failed drugs test in November 2024 while on international duty with Ukraine.Transfer fee – £89 million when he joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023.Performance stats – 10 goals in 73 appearances across all competitions for the Blues.Appeal timeline – appeal filed February 2026; CAS statement released April 29 2026; hearing date pending.Impact on Chelsea, Ukrainian Football and Anti‑Doping PolicyThe case puts Chelsea in a difficult position, as the club cannot field Mudryk while the appeal is pending and must manage squad depth without one of its high‑value assets. For the Ukrainian national team, the suspension removes a key attacking option ahead of upcoming qualifiers. The FA’s anti‑doping policy, under regulation 77, mandates a four‑year ban for non‑specified substances like meldonium unless intent can be disproved, highlighting the strict liability framework in English football.Possible Outcomes and Timeline for Mudryk’s ReturnIf CAS reduces the sanction, Mudryk could be eligible to play as early as 2027, potentially re‑joining Chelsea for the next season. A full up‑hold would keep him sidelined until the end of 2028. The next steps include written submissions, a hearing date, and a final award, which could be delivered within a few months after the hearing, shaping the player’s career trajectory and Chelsea’s transfer strategy.

Kenyan marathon runner Albert Korir, the 2021 New York City Marathon champion, has been handed a five-year doping ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU). Korir admitted to using a banned performance-enhancing drug, specifically the synthetic form of erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates red blood cell production.The ban, which runs from January 8 until January 7, 2031, was reduced from six years due to Korir's early admission and acceptance of the sanction. The 32-year-old athlete tested positive during out-of-competition tests in Kenya in October.Korir has had a notable career, winning the 2021 New York marathon in a time of 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 22 seconds. He also came third in the 2023 New York marathon with a personal best time of 2:06:57. Additionally, he won the Ottawa Marathon in 2019 and 2025.This sanction comes as part of Kenya's ongoing efforts to clean up its image in athletics, following a string of doping scandals. Over 140 Kenyan runners, mainly long-distance athletes, have been sanctioned for drugs offences since the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Recently, Kenya handed out its first lifetime ban to marathon runner Beatrice Toroitich and a six-year ban to 10km record holder Rhonex Kipruto in June 2024.