Sports lawyer Catherine Forshaw talked about how events may develop in case the positive doping test of Mykhailo Mudryk, which he took after one of the national team matches in November, is confirmed and the player is disqualified.
Mykhailo MudrykA four-year disqualification is standard for an athlete violating anti-doping rules. But if there is a voluntary admission of guilt, this may work in favor of the athlete and reduce the punishment term. This should be done within 20 days from the moment the accusation is presented.
Initially, any appeal will be considered by the anti-doping tribunal of the Football Association of England. They will make a ruling on the case. However, the rules also provide for the possibility of transferring the appeal to a higher court, and this is where the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) comes into play. Once you have exhausted internal options, there is a possibility to go further up the chain in an attempt to mitigate or overturn the ban.
If there are sanctions, Mudryk's eight-year contract may become a problem. Depending on the terms of the employment contract, Chelsea may consider terminating it. They will certainly take into account the costs associated with his absence from the game for four years. That is a significant period.
If Mudryk is charged and suspended, I think Chelsea may attempt to file a lawsuit against the Ukrainian Football Association. Sometimes representatives of athletes are involved in such cases. Therefore, there may be consequences for other organizations or individuals that Chelsea may try to hold accountable. I believe that if Mudryk receives even a two-year suspension, Chelsea will want to terminate his contract. I can’t imagine Chelsea just sitting idly by and allowing the ban to take its course.
The fact that Mudryk took a doping test while with his national team means that the Ukrainian Football Association may also try to take action if sanctions are imposed. This also falls under UEFA-FIFA jurisdiction. Therefore, there may be broader consequences. The Ukrainian Football Association may tell Mudryk: “You are banned from ever representing the national team.” So it’s not just a matter of what the consequences will be for Chelsea, — Forshaw said in an interview with GiveMeSport.
