The Football Association has charged Chelsea winger Mikhail Mudryk with violating anti-doping regulations.
The 24-year-old has not played since December, when he was given a provisional suspension after testing positive for what is believed to be the banned substance meldonium.
In a statement, the FA said: “We can confirm that Mikhail Mudryk has been charged with an anti-doping rule violation relating to the alleged possession and/or use of a prohibited substance, under provisions of the FA Anti-Doping Rules Three and Four.
“As this case is still ongoing, we are unable to provide further comment at this time.”
Mudrik could face a sanction of up to four years' disqualification under the FA's anti-doping rules.
Under Rule 77, if a violation involves an unspecified substance, a player may be subject to a four-year suspension unless he or his team proves that the violation was not intentional.
If a specific substance is involved and the FA can prove that the violation was intentional, a four-year disqualification also applies.
Specific substances are those that are believed to have been used by an athlete with the intent not to enhance athletic performance.
A shorter period of ineligibility may be applied depending on other circumstances, such as proof of lack of intent to violate the rules and whether the violation occurred in-competition or out of competition.
Chelsea have been approached for comment.
Earlier this month, Mudryk's No 10 shirt was handed over to Cole Palmer for next season, leaving the Ukraine international without a number at Stamford Bridge.
In a statement released at the time of his suspension, Mudrik said the positive test came as a “total shock” and he had “done nothing illegal”, while Chelsea added that the player “has never knowingly taken any banned substances”.
The result came shortly after he went on international duty with Ukraine in November, during which he was reportedly injected with a banned substance.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca initially said the winger would be out due to illness to explain his absence from the team for four matches before the suspension was announced.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
