Which Sport Will Mykhailo Mudryk Play After Chelsea Suspension?

After being formally suspended by the FA in a doping case after allegedly taking the banned substance meldonium, Ukrainian star Mykhailo Mudryk is considering a switch from football to a different sport ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. After plying his trade for Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukrainian top flight, he made a move to Stamford Bridge. The Ukrainian striker played a crucial role in bringing the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup Trophy to London. Though Mudryk's defence is led legally by Morgan Sports Law, the firm that worked with former Manchester United star Paul Pogba, the serious allegation has now put his future at Stamford Bridge at stake.

Which sport will Mykhailo Mudryk play next?

The next big question that the internet is asking is what's next for Mudryk? Given Mudryk's blistering pace and acceleration, it will be a no-brainer if he joins sprinting next and becomes the next Usain Bolt of Ukraine. At Chelsea, Mudryk regularly clocked speeds surpassing 36 kmph and has also been one of the fastest players in the English Premier League over the last couple of years.

Mudryk's physical build also makes him an eligible fit for sprinting. Ukraine had done pretty well in athletics in the last Olympics. However, there have been no podium finishes in sprinting, and Mudryk's arrival might change the equation for Ukraine.

Why 2028 LA Olympics are so important for Ukraine ?

Over the years, Olympics have not stood more than just a global sporting event. Many examples like Tokyo hosting the 1968 Olympic Games after two nuclear explosions in 1945 symbolised Japan's rebirth as a peaceful, modern and technologically advanced nation.

Given the ongoing war against Russia, Ukraine's participation in the LA Olympics really matter more than anything. The war has forced top tier clubs like Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv to play their home games abroad with empty stadiums and has affected their European ambitions. Despite adversities, Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk defended his heavyweight boxing titles and dedicated his win to his homeland.

Los Angeles has a vast Ukrainian disapora and amidst Russia's continued exclusion from international sports, Ukraine participation in the LA Olympics could amplify their voice far beyond sports. Every podium finish in LA will carry an added moral weight for a nation fighting for its existence in the global landscape.