Reports have revealed that Chelsea may inadvertently cause significant financial losses to Shakhtar Donetsk due to the continued absence of Ukrainian winger Mykhaylo Mudryk following a doping case he has faced since the end of 2024.

Shakhtar sold Mudryk to Chelsea in the summer of 2023 in a deal valued at a total of £88 million, which included about £26 million in incentives and bonuses tied to individual and team performances and achievements.

However, the Ukrainian club has not received these bonuses yet, due to the player's absence from the field since November 2024 after his temporary suspension following the detection of a banned substance in one of the samples.

Shakhtar's CEO, Serhii Palkin, confirmed that the player's continued absence represents a strong financial blow to the club, noting that the bonuses were linked to Mudryk's participation and Chelsea's successes both locally and in Europe. He added that he still believes in the player's return to the field in the future, despite the uncertainty surrounding the final decision in the case.

According to reports, the banned substance found in the sample is "Meldonium," a substance that has previously sparked widespread controversy in various sports cases.

Mudryk faces the risk of a suspension that could last up to four years if the charge is officially proven, while the player continues to deny any intentional use of banned substances, asserting in previous statements that he has never violated the laws and hopes to return to the pitch soon.