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Eleven out of 28 Ukrainian athletes competing at the International Biathlon Union (IBU) Para Biathlon World Cup in Vuokatti, Finland, on December 12-15 won medals, earning Ukraine first place in the competition out of 16 countries. Ukraine’s Para athletes won six gold, six silver and three bronze medals for 15 total medals and the top spot in the standings.
Taras Rad (sitting 12.5-kilometer individual and sprint pursuit) and Oleksandr Kazik (vision impaired 7.5-kilometer sprint and 12.5-kilometer individual) led the way with two gold medals each, while Serhii Romaniuk claimed three medals (one gold, a silver and one bronze). Jaroslav Reshetynskyi won Ukraine’s final gold medal in the vision impaired men’s sprint pursuit.
Lviv’s Kordon Race unites Ukrainians and raises funds
In mid-December, Lviv, Ukraine, hosted the fifth annual Kordon Race charity inclusive competition, an obstacle course founded by the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine with support from the Poruch mental health reintegration program for military and veterans. The goal was to raise funds for the creation of mine simulators for training combat units.
The race brought together military personnel, veterans and civilians to demonstrate strength of spirit and the readiness to overcome obstacles. The inclusive competition was not only about sports, but also about uniting Ukrainians in a charity cause to benefit Ukraine’s defenders.
Despite freezing temperatures, members of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, veterans, amateur and professional athletes and even children, totaling some 250 participants plus 500 guests, attended the event. Competitors tested their skills in overcoming a specially designed obstacle course in very challenging conditions. Participants also took part in mine safety workshops and met with dog handlers.
Those attending described the Kordon Race as cool and different, saying the obstacles were “non-standard.” Some serious thought was required to pass each individual obstacle and most were eager to attend similar competitions in the future.
The Kordon Race project’s goals are to raise funds while also educating citizens in various aspects of the military, including the work and training of border guards and how to adapt to life in a country at war. The basics of tactical medicine and knowing the fundamental rules for handling explosives were two additional areas of instruction.
Competitions were held in both individual and team events with winners receiving medals.
Mudryk fails drug test
English Premier League club Chelsea and the Ukrainian Football Association confirmed that Mykhailo Mudryk has failed a drug test. The Ukraine international vowed he “never knowingly used any banned substance” after a routine urine test confirmed the presence of an illegal substance.
Mudryk has not played since scoring in a 2-0 win over Heindeheim in late November, marking a five-match absence initially attributed to illness. It is now believed he did not receive playing time because of the drug test result. Any breach of the English Football Association’s anti-doping rules results in an immediate provisional suspension from the game.
It was reported that the winger’s failed test took place in October and the substance he tested positive for is a performance-enhancing drug. If this is the case, he would face a four-year ban from football. If Mudryk can prove that he ingested the substance by accident through no fault of his own, his punishment could range from a reprimand to a two-year ban.
Writing on Instagram, Mudryk said, “This has come as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used any banned substance or broken any rules, and I am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened.”
“I know that I have not done anything wrong and remain hopeful that I will be back on the pitch soon,” Mudyrk said. “I cannot say any more now due to the confidentiality of the process, but I will as soon as I can.”
The 23-year-old joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in a transfer worth up to $112 million in January 2023. Since his arrival he has struggled, scoring 10 goals and nine assists in 73 appearances across all competitions.
It is alleged that a second sample has been requested, the result of which has not yet been determined. If his B sample also returns a positive reading, then he will face the maximum ban of four years. If the B sample comes up negative, then his case can be dismissed.
According to The Mail, Mudryk was provisionally suspended by England’s Football Association, although the FA refused to comment. Additional reports in Ukraine claim the positive sample showed traces of meldonium, which is the same substance that former tennis star Maria Sharapova tested positive for in 2016.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca said that he and the club “trust and support” Mudryk and he believes the player will return to active duty with the team.
Sport Shorts
• Fourteen Ukrainian Olympians participated in a joint photo shoot with members of Ukraine’s military to create a special 2025 Ukrainian calendar. Among those taking part in the project were gold medalists Olha Kharlan, Yaroslava Mahuchikh and boxer Oleksandr Khyzhniak.
• The “home” Champions League match between Shakhtar Donetsk and Bayern Munich on December 10 at Arena Auf Schalke in Gelsenkarchen drew 57,079 fans, a record for the Shakhtar club for a home game.
• Iryna Shevchenko won a bronze medal at the IBU Junior Cup in the individual race in Ridanna, Italy, on December 12.
• Ukrainian Greco-Roman wrestlers won two medals in Ilmajoki, Finland, at the Arvo Haavsito International Tournament. Yehor Yakushenko took gold in the 97-kilogram class and Ivan Chmyr won bronze in the 87-kilogram category.
• Ukrainian fencer Anna Maksymenko won gold at the Junior World Cup of Fencing in Burgos, Spain, on December 14 by defeating Poland’s Greta Gahali 15-7 in the final.
• Seventeen-year-old Odesa native Mark Kulish won the bronze medal at the Edusport Trophy International figure skating competition in Otopeni, Romania, on December 9-15 in the junior men’s event.
• The National Hockey League’s Chicago Blackhawks recalled Kevin Korchinski and Frank Nazar from their Rcockford American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate in an effort to inject some young Ukrainian blood into their ailing team. The 20-year-old Nazar led all AHL rookies with 11 goals and 24 points in 21 games at the time of his recall. The 20-year-old Korchinski notched two goals and 11 points in 21 games with the Ice Dogs this season after spending all of 2023-2024 with the parent club where he registered 15 points (5 goals) in 76 games.
• Ukraine defeated Cyprus 7-0 in a Futsal Euro 2026 qualifying match on December 13.
• Nigerian boxer Michael Igwegbe stepped into the ring for his second professional fight against Ukrainian opponent Igor Tsymbalyuk wearing socks with the inscription “ЗСУ,” which is the Ukrainian acronym for the country’s armed forces, and vowed to donate part of his earnings to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He earned widespread admiration from the crowd despite losing the bout. Tsymbalyuk won by unanimous decision. The Nigerian said he was honored to box against the Ukrainian.
• According to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics, Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin ranked seventh among the world’s best goalkeepers in 2024.
• Boxing insider Michael Benson reported on December 19 that Ukrainian Vasyl Lomachenko has officially announced his retirement from boxing at the age of 36. He was a world champion in three weight categories from featherweight to lightweight.
(With reporting from UNN and CBS Sports.)
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The Ukrainian Weekly was founded in 1933 to serve the Ukrainian American community and to function as a vehicle for communication of that community’s concerns to the general public in the United States. It is the official English-language publication of the Ukrainian National Association.
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