By Monsurah Olatunji
Chelsea forward Mykhailo Mudryk’s recent drug test controversy has sparked significant discussions across social media, with fans and players expressing concern over the situation.
Mudryk, who has been struggling for consistent playing time with Chelsea, reportedly failed a drug test last month.
If found guilty, he could face a ban of up to four years, making him the first Chelsea player in recent years to test positive for a prohibited substance.
Former Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi, however, has expressed hope that Mudryk is cleared of any wrongdoing, particularly for the sake of his career. Speaking on his ObiOne Podcast, Obi emphasized the importance of innocence until proven guilty.
“For him (Mudryk) and his family, I hope he is innocent,” Obi stated.
“I remember when we were playing, if someone offered me something, I would ask what it is. I’m responsible for what I put in my body, what I eat, and stuff like that. But for now, Mudryk is innocent until proven guilty.”
Obi’s comments underline the personal responsibility athletes carry in managing their health and careers, while also offering support for Mudryk as he faces the investigation into the drug test results.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
