Sports lawyer Ilya Skoropashkin commented on the scandal involving the positive doping test of Chelsea midfielder Mykhailo Mudryk.
Ilya Skoropashkin— The fact that the second sample has been opened may affect the final decision on sanctions. However, the key factor remains the athlete's actions — how much he will contribute to clarifying the circumstances of the violation and assist anti-doping organizations in the investigation. According to point 10.8.1 of the World Anti-Doping Code (WADA), if an athlete admits to the violation and accepts the specified suspension period within 20 days of receiving the notification of the accusation, he may receive a one-year reduction in the suspension from competitions. However, if the athlete himself confirms the intentional use of a prohibited substance, such a reduction is not provided for.
It is obvious that in Mudryk’s case, it is either a mistake by the doping control authorities or an unintentional exposure to the prohibited substance in the athlete's body. The reasons can vary: improper labeling of vitamins or medications, violations of their production or storage standards, consumption of contaminated products, mistakes by medical personnel, or even sabotage by third parties, etc. If the second sample does not confirm the presence of the prohibited substance, the charges are dropped and the case is closed. If the analysis confirms a positive result, the athlete must provide convincing explanations regarding how the prohibited substance entered his body. Essentially, the extent of sanctions will primarily depend on how much the athlete contributes to establishing an objective picture, — said the lawyer.
