Former head of the Sports Medical Committee of the Football Federation of Ukraine, now a member of the medical commission of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, Vyacheslav Popov shared when to expect a decision regarding the doping of Chelsea midfielder Mykhailo Mudryk.
Mykhailo Mudryk— Meldonium was found in the body of Mykhailo Mudryk, later there was information that they opened sample B, although, as you said in the previous interview, there was no need for that. Almost half a year has passed, but the final verdict has not yet been issued. What is happening?
— Meldonium stays in the blood for 3−3.5 months. During this time, they may check again if necessary. It’s a complicated case. In our football federation, the relevant persons checked all the documentation from the pharmacy, doctors underwent a lie detector test. They wrote reports and so on. The investigation is ongoing.
— How long can it take?
— As far as I know, the case is moving into the legal sphere. Chelsea will seek accountability in court. The English club bought the player for 100 million euros. There will probably be certain expenses that someone needs to cover. The English seem to want to shift the financial burden onto our federation. It’s unclear how everything will end.
— Two years of disqualification — is this the final verdict?
— It all depends on the player himself. If he cooperates with the investigation and agrees with the charges brought by the doping laboratory, the laboratory will also cooperate, and the matter will be resolved in his favor. That is, everything will be limited to two years of suspension.
— Is there a possibility of reducing the disqualification period?
— I find it difficult to answer this question — I do not have the details of the case.
— Two years out of the game for a 24-year-old player is a significant, but not critical period. He will still play for the national team.
— Unfortunately, in practice, it happens the other way around. After disqualification, very few return to their previous high level.
Hennadiy Chekhovsky
