Athletic Bilbao defender handed 10-month ban for doping offence | OneFootball

The UEFA disciplinary body has punished defender Yeray Álvarez, from Athletic Bilbao, with a ten-month suspension for doping, after he tested positive in an exam conducted following the Europa League semifinal against Manchester United.

The analysis of the player's sample revealed the presence of canrenone, “a substance prohibited both in and out of competition in category S5,” which includes “diuretics and masking agents on WADA's list of banned substances,” the World Anti-Doping Agency, UEFA stated in a statement published this Monday.

The European federation, however, acknowledges that “there was no intent on the part of the player, considering it proven that the ingestion of the prohibited substance occurred due to the incorrect use of a preventive medication against hair loss by his partner, without the intention to dope,” highlighted Athletic in a note.

Punishment Details

The suspension starts from June 2, as Yeray Álvarez voluntarily accepted his provisional suspension.

Therefore, he will be free to play again starting April 2, 2026, but two months earlier, as stipulated by UEFA's anti-doping regulations, he may rejoin team training.

Athletic Bilbao finished last season's Spanish Championship in fourth place and this season will compete in the UEFA Champions League.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.