Sports barrister Yasin Patel at Church Court Chambers has given his expert view on Mykhailo Mudryk’s failed drug test, which came to light last night.

Patel said: “Mudryk’s failed drugs test should not be automatically accepted as proof of someone who has knowingly taken drugs. There have been many instances where a second test has proven that the first test has been wrong, or erroneous.

“This could include the conditions where the sample has been stored or transported to the laboratory. There could have also been an error in the testing, and the sample having been tampered with knowingly – or unknowingly.

“In addition, there have been instances where samples have been altered due to the conditions in which they have been taken not being sterile.

“As Mudryk has stated, he did not knowingly take anything he should not have, and so it remains to be seen what the further tests and investigations can reveal.”