Athletic Bilbao’s defender Yeray Alvarez has opened up about his 10-month UEFA suspension after testing positive for a banned substance. The 30-year-old footballer took full responsibility, explaining it stemmed from a hair loss treatment he started after beating cancer twice.
Yeray tested positive for canrenone—a substance that can mask other drugs—during and after Athletic Bilbao’s 3-0 loss to Manchester United in the Europa League semifinals back in May. He shared that he’d been using the treatment since 2022 and even informed his club about it. His girlfriend was on a similar regimen too.
But things went wrong the week before that big semifinal match. “I ran out of my pills and grabbed one from my partner, thinking it was the exact same thing,” Yeray said. “I had no idea it contained canrenone, which is prohibited in sports.”
In a heartfelt apology, he told fans and teammates, “These have been tough months for me, and I hate that it’s affected all of you. I’m truly sorry to Athletic Bilbao, the supporters, and everyone involved.” To show his commitment, Yeray has given up his salary until he can return to the pitch on April 2, 2026.
Unlike tennis star Jannik Sinner, who got just three months for a similar doping violation last year, Yeray’s ban is much longer. Still, he accepts it without complaint. “Ten months feels fair,” he said. “I owned up to my mistake right away, and that’s how it’ll stay.”
The suspension started provisionally on June 2 and has been backdated. Yeray can rejoin training from February 2, 2026, giving him time to prepare for his comeback in the football world. This Yeray Alvarez doping case highlights the strict rules in UEFA competitions and the importance of checking every medication athletes take.
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