December 17th 2024.
In January 2023, Chelsea made a big move by signing Mykhaylo Mudryk for a whopping £89m. However, things took a turn when the 23-year-old was provisionally suspended for failing a doping test. This caused a stir in the football community and raised questions about the drug Meldonium and its benefits for athletes. Let's take a closer look at the situation.
On Tuesday, the Football Association contacted Chelsea after an "adverse finding" in a routine urine test for Mudryk. This led to an investigation into the matter, as the Ukrainian player denied knowingly using the banned substance. Mudryk expressed his shock at the results and stated that he has never intentionally taken any prohibited substances.
Under FIFA guidelines, players who are found to have deliberately used banned substances can face a ban of up to four years. But what exactly is Meldonium and why is it on the list of prohibited substances? Let's dig deeper.
Meldonium, also known as Mildronate, was originally created in Latvia for use in animals. However, it was later added to the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of banned substances in 2016 due to evidence of its use by athletes for performance enhancement. A study published in December 2015 showed that Meldonium can improve endurance, aid in post-exercise recovery, and even have positive effects on the central nervous system.
According to Medical News Today, Meldonium is primarily used for heart conditions such as angina, heart attack, and heart failure. It can also be helpful in reducing withdrawal symptoms for those struggling with alcohol dependency. Other potential uses include immune system regulation and treating various ailments such as stomach ulcers, eye trauma, and respiratory infections.
Meldonium has been making headlines in the sports world since 2016, when tennis star Maria Sharapova tested positive for the drug. She was suspended for 24 months, but after appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, her ban was reduced to 15 months. Sharapova claimed that she had been legally using Meldonium to treat a medical condition for ten years, but was unaware of the rule change that made it a prohibited substance.
Sharapova is not the only athlete to have faced consequences for using Meldonium. Athletes from the United States, Russia, and other parts of Europe have also faced bans for using the drug in various sports. In 2018, Russian curler Alexander Krushelnitsky had his bronze medal stripped at the Winter Olympics after testing positive for Meldonium.
In conclusion, the case of Mykhaylo Mudryk's suspension has brought attention to the use of Meldonium in sports. While it may have potential benefits for athletes, it is important to follow the rules and regulations set by governing bodies in order to maintain a fair and clean playing field for all.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
