Shakhtar deny plans to sue UAF over Mudryk Chelsea move amid doping case

Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday dismissed reports that the club planned to sue the Ukrainian Football Federation over potential lost earnings from Mudryk's Chelsea transfer amid the winger's doping case. Mudryk has been suspended since a positive test last year that officials said potentially contained meldonium, and he faces a possible four-year ban if found guilty by the Football Association.

Shakhtar chief executive Sergei Palkin told the BBC that the idea of a lawsuit was nonsense and that the club's priority is Mudryk's welfare. He said there was no credible basis for legal action and noted that the club remained in contact with the UAF to support Mudryk and respond responsibly. The situation, he added, could affect the image of Ukraine and Ukrainian football, and the club was prepared to help Mudryk in any way possible.

Mudryk, who joined Chelsea from Shakhtar in 2023 in a deal that could reach up to £89 million, with performance-related add-ons estimated at about £26 million, now seems unlikely to trigger while he remains suspended. He has hired Morgan Sports Law to act as his representatives in a bid to safeguard his career. In December, Mudryk posted on Instagram that he had been notified that a sample he provided to The FA contained a banned substance, adding that he had not knowingly used any banned substances and would cooperate with investigators to determine how this happened.

The UAF did not deny a BBC report that Mudryk had come into contact with meldonium while with the Ukraine national team, but said none of its staff were involved in the case. The federation declined further comment while the investigation proceeds.

Beyond Mudryk's case, the situation underscores ongoing scrutiny of Ukrainian football amid doping-related suspensions. Shakhtar's leadership stressed that, regardless of the transfer's financial footprint, the immediate concern is the player's health and career prospects, and any resolution will depend on the outcome of the investigation and potential appeals.