Athletic Bilbao’s Yeray Alvarez Banned for 10 Months Over Doping Test

TDT | Manama

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Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Alvarez has been handed a 10-month suspension after testing positive for a banned substance following last season’s Europa League match against Manchester United, UEFA announced on Monday.

The analysis of a sample taken from Alvarez after the May game revealed the presence of Canrenone, a substance prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency. UEFA confirmed that the 30-year-old took the substance involuntarily, as it was part of medication he was using to treat hair loss following his battle with testicular cancer.

Despite the circumstances, Alvarez received a 10-month ban, backdated to June when he had voluntarily suspended himself. He will be allowed to return to training in February and can play competitively again in April next year.

Alvarez was first diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2016. After treatment, he made a comeback in 2017, but a recurrence forced him to pause again, returning for a second time in 2018. His positive test came after Athletic Bilbao’s 3-0 home defeat against Manchester United in the Europa League semi-final first leg on May 1.

This suspension is a significant setback for the Basque club, who are set to compete in this season’s Champions League. The news follows the collapse of a transfer move to bring Spanish centre-back Aymeric Laporte back from Saudi club Al-Nassr late in the transfer window.