Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca says he and the club have full confidence in Mykhailo Mudric after he was found to have breached doping rules.

The 23-year-old returned a failed drug test – which is routinely carried out by the FA – and has been suspended by the club.

An investigation will be conducted to find the source of Mudrick’s negative result.

The player himself says that he has never knowingly taken performance enhancing drugs.

Speaking on the matter, Maresca said: “We believe in Mykhailo and we support Mykhailo and trust means we believe in Mykhailo, we believe in Mykhailo and we support him.

“What Michaelo said and what we said is that we believe in him and support him.

🚨🔵 Maresca: “We all support Misha Mudryk”.

“The situation is a little more clear. We have a statement from the club, who have already said what we need to say”.

“So nothing to add. All the players inside the training ground support and believe in Misha.” pic.twitter.com/mCj36I0r81

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 18, 2024

“First of all, these kinds of things happen not only with young players but with experienced players.

“It’s been my duty since we started that I try to have a very close relationship with the players because I love it.

“It’s exactly the same with Mudric and I’m here to help him with anything he needs. At the moment it is normal that he will need help from the club, me and his teammates and we are all trying to support him.

An innocent man

Mudric has not seen many Premier League minutes this season, but has been used in cup competitions.

He will start Chelsea’s Europa Conference League game against Shamrock Rovers on Thursday.

When asked if he believed Mudric was innocent, he added: “We all believe so, then we’ll see.

“I think he will come back. The only thing is that we don’t know when, the only doubt we have at the moment. Surely he is coming back.

“It’s not about Mykhailo, it’s about any player in the world who needs support if this kind of thing happens.

“We support and trust Misha (Mudrik)”

Enzo Maresca on Mykhailo Mudric’s suspension after adverse findings in a routine urine test. pic.twitter.com/KtMfA8CA2s

– Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 18, 2024

“Whether they’re 20 or 30 or English or Italian or Ukrainian – when things like this happen, I need support, you need support, they need support – we all need support.

“It is not about Mikhail, his age or his country. When things like this happen, we all need support.

“He was improving a lot especially in the last game. He is beginning to understand what position he has to occupy.

“Initially it was because of his skill that he was moving and running too much but in the last two or three games he has improved a lot and we are very happy with him. In terms of where it could be in one, two or three years. i don’t know

“The talent we see on the training pitch is exactly what you sometimes see during the game. It’s exactly the same feeling with Mikhailo. In a training session, it’s just like a game.”