Mumbai, May 28: Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca seemed as surprised as anyone when he was told Mykhailo Mudryk had been spotted in Poland ahead of the club's Conference League final against Real Betis. Mudryk, who became one of Chelsea's biggest signings when he arrived for USD 108 million in 2023, hasn't played since it emerged in December that he was facing a doping investigation. Until now, the Ukrainian winger has kept a low profile but photos and videos on social media appeared to show him posing with fans Tuesday while wearing a jacket with the Chelsea badge. Antony Breaks Down While Reflecting on Manchester United Tenure, Says ‘I Couldn’t Take It Anymore’.

"To be honest, I just, I don't know. He's here, or he's coming? He's here? I'm happy for Misha (Mudryk) to be here. I don't know, just happy for Misha to be here." Maresca said, glancing around in surprise when asked at his pre-game news conference what he thought of Mudryk being in Wroclaw ahead of Wednesday's game.

Mudryk hasn't posted on social media since a statement about the case in December when he acknowledged an unnamed “banned substance” had been found in a sample he'd given.

"I know that I have not done anything wrong and remain hopeful that I will be back on the pitch soon," he posted at the time.

Neither Chelsea nor the English Football Association have provided any updates on the progress of the case since then. Mudryk could be awarded a medal from the Conference League final because he played in Chelsea's first four games of the league phase, scoring three goals. Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United Premier League 2024–25: Marc Cucurella's Lone Goal Helps Blues Hand Red Devils Third Straight League Defeat.

He scored in his most recent game, a 2-0 Conference League win over German club Heidenheim on Nov. 28. Mudryk signed an eight-and-a-half-year contract when he signed for Chelsea in January 2023, keeping him at the club until 2031.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)