Spanish Xabi Alonso, Chelsea coach, confirmed that no decision has been made regarding the future of Mykhailo Mudryk, the team player, indicating that he may participate in the preparatory matches for the new season after his return from the suspension due to doping.
Mudryk has become available to participate again after the conclusion of the doping-related case procedures, following the reduction of the penalty that was supposed to extend to 4 years, after a doping test he underwent in 2024 came back positive.
Mudryk has not played any match since November 2024, and rumors circulated that Chelsea might agree to loan him out to regain his fitness, or perhaps sell him permanently.
When Alonso was asked in a press conference before his team's friendly match against Juventus in Hong Kong about those possibilities, Alonso said "No decision has been made".
He added: "Everything happened very quickly, so the most important thing for us was to think about the human being, and for him to feel that he has returned to the group atmosphere, and has once again become part of the team".
He explained: "We need to assess the situation, but it is certainly a special case for him, so we must handle it with sensitivity".
Mudryk's suspension came after a small amount of the banned substance "meldonium" was found in his sample.
The player filed an appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and amendments were made to the regulations during the intervening period, meaning that if his sample had shown the same result now, he would not have faced doping charges.
When asked whether his returning player could participate against Juventus on Wednesday, Alonso answered in the affirmative.
Alonso concluded his remarks on this matter by saying: "Yesterday was more about the feelings and sensations associated with returning to the team, rather than assessing the level of physical readiness, but yes, he can play".