Athletic Bilbao Defender Suspended For 10 Months After Failing Drug Test

Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Alvarez has received a 10-month suspension for using a prohibited substance detected in a medication intended to prevent hair loss after his cancer treatment.

The 30-year-old Spaniard tested positive for canrenone after a 3-0 loss to Manchester United in the Europa League semi-finals in May.

A WADA-accredited laboratory analyzed the player’s sample and confirmed the presence of canrenone, a substance banned both in and out of competition.

On June 2, the defender voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension, effective from that date, with UEFA initiating disciplinary proceedings eight days later.

Two UEFA ethics and disciplinary inspectors conducted an investigation, and the case was forwarded to UEFA’s disciplinary bodies for a final ruling.

Alvarez has now been issued a 10-month ban, effective from the date of his provisional suspension on June 2, concluding on April 2.

He will be permitted to resume training in February and utilize Athletic Bilbao’s facilities during the final two months of his suspension.

In July, Alvarez clarified that he had inadvertently consumed the banned substance as part of a hair loss treatment, following his testicular cancer diagnosis nine years earlier.

The defender described receiving the news as a “hard blow” and expressed shock upon learning of his positive test.

Athletic Bilbao, set to face Arsenal in the Champions League next week, issued a statement on Monday morning.

“The player, who had been provisionally suspended since June 2 following his positive test in the Europa League match against Manchester United, will be able to return to training on February 2 and compete on April 2,” read the statement from Athletic Bilbao.

“After the investigation phase was completed, UEFA’s disciplinary body issued a ruling and imposed a ten-month ban on Yeray Alvarez.

“In its decision, UEFA acknowledged that there was no intentionality on the part of the player, finding it proven that the ingestion of the prohibited substance was due to the player’s incorrect use of a hair loss preventative medication containing the substance, unintentionally taking it as a drug.

“The federation body recalls that, under current regulations, the athlete is responsible for his actions and, consequently, should have confirmed whether the medication was permitted before taking it.

“The sanction began on June 2, as Yeray Alvarez voluntarily accepted the provisional suspension. He will therefore be eligible to return to competition starting April 2, 2026.

“However, the player can return to team training two months earlier, in accordance with applicable regulations. Yeray Alvarez will hold a press conference shortly, in which he will provide the necessary explanations.”

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