<figure id="attachment_3106564" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3106564" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3106564" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/995f24ed-yeray-alvarez-epa-110725.webp" alt="Yeray Alvarez EPA 110725" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3106564" class="wp-caption-text">Yeray Alvarez came through Bilbao&#8217;s youth academy and has made 257 appearances for the team. (EPA Images pic)</figcaption></figure>
BILBAO: Athletic Bilbao&#8217;s Yeray Alvarez has been provisionally suspended due to a failed doping test after a Europa League game against Manchester United, with the defender saying he unintentionally ingested a banned substance in medicine used to treat hair loss.
Alvarez said he had tested positive after Bilbao&#8217;s 3-0 home defeat in the semi-finals of Uefa&#8217;s second-tier club competition in May.
The Spanish side also lost the return leg 4-1.
The 30-year-old centreback was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2016 and said he had been taking the medicine as part of his treatment for alopecia.
&#8220;After studying the case, we have established that I tested positive because I unintentionally took a hair loss prevention medicine containing a banned substance,&#8221; Alvarez said in a social media post yesterday.
&#8220;The disciplinary procedure is currently under investigation and subject to confidentiality, so I am provisionally suspended and am not authorised to make any further public statements.
&#8220;I would like to say to all of you that I very much regret this situation but, with the support of the club, I am working on my defence in the belief that I will be able to return to the field of play as soon as possible.&#8221;
Uefa said they would not comment on the case until a final disciplinary decision had been made.
Bilbao threw their full support behind Alvarez, who came through the club&#8217;s youth academy and has made 257 appearances in all competitions for the senior team.

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