Serhii Palkin says he expects Mykhailo Mudryk to resume his career despite the ongoing uncertainty surrounding his doping case.
The Shakhtar Donetsk CEO remains in contact with the Chelsea forward, who is currently provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance.
“I know Mudryk as a player and a person. I believe he will return and he will start playing,” Palkin said.
“He’s a very hard worker. And he will prove he’s in a position to play and bring results to the team.”
Mudryk doping case latest
Mudryk, 25, has been unable to train with Chelsea since being provisionally suspended following an adverse finding in a routine drugs test.
He was first contacted in December 2024 and formally charged in June 2025, with the case still awaiting a final verdict.
At the time, Mudryk denied any wrongdoing.
“I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules,” he said, adding he was working to understand how the result occurred.
If found guilty, he could face a ban of up to four years under Football Association regulations.
Financial impact for Shakhtar Donetsk
Palkin also highlighted the financial implications of the situation for Shakhtar.
Mudryk joined Chelsea in a deal worth up to €100 million, including €30 million in performance-related add-ons.
“We have €30 million of bonuses in his contract,” Palkin said.
“And if he is not playing, if Chelsea are not reaching results, we are losing €30m. That’s a big financial impact for us.”
Waiting for decision on Mudryk future
Despite the uncertainty, there is still no clear timeline for a final decision.
“As I understand at this moment, everybody is waiting for the court’s decision,” Palkin said.
“We don’t have any information about when this will take place and when the final decision will be issued.”
