Athletic Bilbao Defender Yeray Alvarez Handed 10-Month UEFA Ban
Sports Updated: 08 September 2025 14:47 EAT
Athletic club's defender Yeray Alvarez
Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Álvarez has been banned for 10 months by UEFA after testing positive for a prohibited substance following the Europa League semi-final first leg against Manchester United in May.
UEFA confirmed that the 30-year-old tested positive for canrenone, a banned diuretic under WADA regulations. The disciplinary body, however, ruled that the violation was non-intentional, linking it to medication Álvarez was taking for hair loss treatment after earlier health challenges.
The suspension officially runs from June 2, 2025, to April 2, 2026. Under UEFA rules, Álvarez will be allowed to resume training with his teammates from February 2, 2026, but he will not be eligible to feature in competitive matches until the ban fully expires.
The ruling is a significant setback for Athletic Club, who will be without one of their defensive pillars for most of the season, with Álvarez expected to make his return just weeks before the end of the 2025/26 campaign.
Tags: Uefa
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FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD