Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Alvarez has been suspended for 10 months after testing positive for a banned substance during last season’s Europa League, UEFA confirmed on Monday.
The 30-year-old failed a doping test after Athletic’s 3-0 home defeat to Manchester United in the Europa League semi-final first leg on May 1.
According to UEFA, analysis of his sample showed the presence of Canrenone, a substance prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The European body noted that Alvarez ingested the substance “involuntarily” through medicine prescribed for hair loss, which he began using after undergoing treatment for testicular cancer.
Despite this, UEFA handed him a 10-month suspension, which has been backdated to June when Alvarez accepted a voluntary provisional ban. This means he can return to competitive action in April 2026, but will be allowed to rejoin training with his teammates two months earlier.
Alvarez, who was first diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2016 and made two comebacks after treatment, has now suffered another career setback.
The ban is a big blow to Bilbao as they prepare for their Champions League campaign this season. The club had hoped to reinforce their defense by bringing back Spain international Aymeric Laporte from Saudi side Al-Nassr, but the move collapsed before the transfer window closed.
