Chelsea’s Suspended Winger Mudryk Handed Six-Month Driving Ban

Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has received a six-month driving ban after repeatedly breaching the UK’s traffic laws, adding to the off-field troubles that have left his footballing career in uncertainty.

The 24-year-old Ukrainian international has been suspended from playing since December, following an accusation that he tested positive for a banned substance. Charged with violating anti-doping regulations in June, Mudryk remains under investigation by the FA and faces the prospect of a four-year ban if found guilty.

While awaiting the outcome, Mudryk was disqualified from driving at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court last month after accumulating 13 penalty points within 18 months. The ban stemmed from a series of motoring offences, the most recent involving speeding in his customised BMW M8.

Represented in court by his lawyer, Mudryk was fined £660, ordered to pay £130 in costs, and issued with a £266 victim surcharge. He must settle the total £1,056 by 17 September.

The latest offence occurred on 24 January this year when Mudryk was pulled over by Metropolitan Police special constable Andrew Kinsella on the South Circular in Wandsworth. Court papers revealed that his car, bearing a personalised number plate with his initials and Chelsea shirt number 10, was travelling at 36mph in a 20mph zone.

“Initially the driver did not stop at the location and I followed the driver in my car,” said Constable Kinsella.
“After indicating for him to stop a number of times further up the road, the driver eventually pulled over in Strath Terrace.”

Mudryk, who presented his Ukrainian driving licence carrying eight existing penalty points, pleaded guilty to the speeding offence in writing in May under the Single Justice Procedure. The case was later escalated to an open court hearing on 21 August, where magistrates imposed the driving ban and an additional five penalty points.

Chelsea signed Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2023 for an initial £62m, with the deal potentially rising to £89m through add-ons. Despite the significant outlay and an eight-and-a-half-year contract, the winger has struggled to make an impact, scoring only five goals in 53 Premier League appearances.

Mudryk, who represented Ukraine at Euro 2024, previously said he was in “complete shock” following his failed drugs test and insisted he would “never knowingly use any banned substances”. Chelsea backed their player at the time, stating: “Mykhailo has confirmed categorically that he has never knowingly used any banned substances.”

With his suspension ongoing, Chelsea reassigned his number 10 shirt to Cole Palmer at the start of the 2025/26 season.