Athletic Bilbao centre-back Yeray Alvarez has been provisionally suspended after testing optimistic for a banned substance, which he claims he inadvertently took as a part of a remedy for alopecia.
Alvarez examined optimistic following Athletic’s 3-0 loss to Manchester United within the Europa League semi-finals on Might 1.
The defender, who was identified with testicular most cancers in 2016, insists he has by no means knowingly taken a banned substance and that his optimistic take a look at stemmed from medication used to deal with hair loss.
In a press release posted on his social media accounts, Alvarez wrote: “A number of weeks in the past I used to be advised that I had examined optimistic in a doping management carried out by UEFA after the primary leg of the Europa League semi-finals towards Manchester United. Receiving that information was a really exhausting blow and, truthfully, 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 towards alopecia for years and, after finding out the case, we now have discovered that the optimistic was as a result of I involuntarily took a preventive medication towards hair loss that contained a prohibited substance.
— Yeray (@yerayalvarez4) July 10, 2025
“The disciplinary process is at present within the investigation part 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 taking part in fields as quickly as potential. As soon as the method is accomplished, I’ll give all the required explanations.
“I wish to thank Athletic Membership for its help and backing from the primary second and categorical 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 part and topic to confidentiality, so the membership shouldn’t be authorised to make extra public statements on this matter.
“As soon as the method is accomplished, Yeray Alvarez and the Athletic Membership will supply all the reasons which can be related and vital.
“The Athletic Membership needs to specific its full help for Yeray Álvarez presently and its full confidence within the our bodies in command of resolving the case.”