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Athletic Club defender Yeray Álvarez has been provisionally suspended following a failed doping test, which he says resulted from “unintentionally” taking a banned substance found in medication for hair loss.
The 30-year-old was informed of the positive result from a UEFA-administered test conducted after Athletic's 3-0 loss to Manchester United in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final in May. Álvarez, who has battled testicular cancer since 2016, has been undergoing long-term treatment for alopecia, a side effect of his illness, which included a substance on UEFA’s prohibited list.
“I could not believe it, given that I have never in my life consumed prohibited substances,” Álvarez shared on Instagram. “Since I overcame my illness, I have been undergoing treatment against alopecia for years and, after studying the case, we have established that the positive test was the result of my unintentionally taking a preventive medication against hair loss that contained a banned substance.”
He described the discovery as a “very hard blow,” adding that the matter is now under formal investigation. “The disciplinary proceeding is currently under investigation and subject to confidentiality, so I am provisionally suspended and am not authorised to make any further public statements.
“I would like to say to all of you that I am very sorry for 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 as soon as possible. Once the process is completed, I will give all the necessary explanations.”
Athletic Club responded with a public statement standing by their player, referring to the incident as a case of “human error.” The club added: “Athletic Club wishes to express its full support for Yeray Alvarez at this time and its complete confidence in the bodies charged with resolving the case. Once the proceedings are concluded, Yeray Alvarez and Athletic Club will offer all the pertinent and necessary explanations.”
UEFA has declined to comment on the matter until a final disciplinary ruling is reached.
Álvarez, a one-club player, rose through Athletic’s academy system and made his first-team debut in 2016. He has since amassed 257 appearances for the senior side across all competitions.
Featured Image Credit: Instagram / @yerayalvarez
