Athletic Bilbao centre-back Yeray Alvarez has been provisionally suspended after testing constructive for a banned substance, which he claims he inadvertently took as a part of a remedy for alopecia.
Alvarez examined constructive following Athletic’s 3-0 loss to Manchester United within the Europa League semi-finals on May 1.
The defender, who was recognized with testicular most cancers in 2016, insists he has by no means knowingly taken a banned substance and that his constructive check stemmed from drugs used to deal with hair loss.
In a press release posted on his social media accounts, Alvarez wrote: “A couple of weeks in the past I used to be informed that I had examined constructive in a doping management carried out by UEFA after the primary leg of the Europa League semi-finals in opposition to Manchester United. Receiving that information was a really onerous blow and, actually, I couldn’t consider it, since I’ve by no means used prohibited substances in my life.
“Since I overcame my sickness, I’ve been following a remedy in opposition to alopecia for years and, after learning the case, we’ve discovered that the constructive was as a result of I involuntarily took a preventive drugs in opposition to hair loss that contained a prohibited substance.
— Yeray (@yerayalvarez4) July 10, 2025
“The disciplinary process is presently within the investigation section and topic to confidentiality, so I’m provisionally suspended and I’m not authorised to make extra public statements.
“I wish to inform you all that I’m very sorry for this case however that, with the help of the membership, I’m working in my defence with the conviction of having the ability to return to the enjoying fields as quickly as potential. Once the method is accomplished, I’ll give all the mandatory explanations.
“I wish to thank Athletic Club for its help and backing from the primary second and specific my confidence in justice and sports activities establishments.”
Athletic added in a press release on their web site: “As Yeray himself has identified, the process is within the investigation section and topic to confidentiality, so the membership is just not authorised to make extra public statements on this matter.
“Once the method is accomplished, Yeray Alvarez and the Athletic Club will supply all the reasons which are related and obligatory.
“The Athletic Club needs to precise its full help for Yeray Álvarez right now and its full confidence within the our bodies in command of resolving the case.”
