Enzo Maresca reacts to Mykhailo Mudryk's failed drugs test | OneFootball

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has thrown his support behind Mykhailo Mudryk after the winger was provisionally suspended following a failed drugs test.

Mudryk insisted he has "never knowingly used any banned substances", with a nervous wait for the results of a B sample to come through, either confirming or contradicting the original failed sample.

"We trust Mykhailo and when these kind of things happen - you need to support your players in all aspects," Maresca explained.

"It's general. Mykhailo is a Chelsea player, he is involved in the squad so it is also my duty to be in contact with him. Me, the club, the teammates and the player - we are all there."

Maresca said that everyone at Chelsea is "upset, sad and there to support Mykhailo," confirming that he last spoke with the player over the situation a few days ago. Mudryk's recent absence from the Chelsea squad on matchdays had been put down to undisclosed illness.

Mudryk is provisionally suspended / Daniel Kopatsch/GettyImages

"At the moment he can't train," Maresca continued. "We are waiting but as I say, the club are there ready to support the player with all the aspects he needs.

"First of all, these kind of things not only happen to young players but players with experience. It is my duty since we started that I try and have a relationship with players quite close because I like it that way. With Mudryk, it is exactly the same and I am here to help him in anything he needs.

"At this moment it is normal that he is going to need help from the club, from me and from his teammates and we are all there trying to support him."

Maresca doesn't believe that Mudryk's career is over: "I think he will come back. The only thing is we don't know when, that's the only doubt we have at the moment. For sure he is going to come back."

The maximum suspension for intentionally taking a banned substance is four years, which was the punishment dished out to Paul Pogba after elevated levels of testosterone were discovered in his system. He claimed it was from a prescribed nutritional supplement and an appeal reduced the ban to 18 months.

Andre Onana was handed a 12-month ban in 2021 after testing positive for a banned substance he said was in his system from accidentally taking his wife's medication when feeling unwell. That suspension was eventually reduced to nine months on appeal.