Yeray Alvarez: Athletic Bilbao Star Suspended for Doping After Manchester United Game
- Athletic Bilbao star Yeray Alvarez has been suspended for failing a drug test after their loss to Manchester United
- The defender said the use of the drug was "unintentional" as it was part of his treatment for cancer
- The 30-year-old centre-back has been at Bilbao since 2016 and has made over 200 La Liga appearances
CHECK OUT: How to Start Earning with Copywriting in Just 7 Days – Even if You’re a Complete Beginner
Athletic Bilbao star Yeray Álvarez has issued a statement after being suspended for testing positive for a banned substance following Athletic Bilbao’s game against Manchester United.
Source: Getty Images
Yeray Alvarez joins Mykhailo Mudryk and Paul Pogba among the players suspended for using banned substances.
The defender has been with Athletic Bilbao since 2016, but his football career is at risk after the latest suspension.
Why was Yeray Alvarez suspended?
The 30-year-old released a statement confirming his suspension for using a banned substance, explaining that he had used it unintentionally to treat alopecia (hair loss).
Search option is now available at TUKO! Feel free to search the content on topics/people you enjoy reading about in the top right corner ;)
He failed a doping test after his team lost the first leg of the Europa League semi-final against Manchester United at San Mames on May 1.
He added that he had been taking the medicine to treat hair loss, which resulted from his testicular cancer diagnosis in 2016. He underwent chemotherapy to treat it.
"After studying the case, we have established that I tested positive because I unintentionally took a hair loss prevention medicine containing a banned substance," Alvarez said in a social media post.
"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."
Alvarez played in both matches against Man United, with Athletic Bilbao losing 7-1 on aggregate.
Will Yeray Alvarez be banned?
Doping in sports is a serious offence and always results in lengthy bans, which often end careers.
Pogba was banned for four years after testing positive for banned substances.
His ban was reduced to 18 months, and he will represent Monaco next season after his ban ended in March.
Pogba had to take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), arguing that the use was unintentional, according to BBC Sport.
The World Cup winner had elevated levels of testosterone in his system, which improves endurance.
"I always stated that I never knowingly breached World Anti-Doping Agency regulations when I took a nutritional supplement prescribed to me by a doctor, which does not affect or enhance the performance of male athletes," Pogba said.
Therefore, Alvarez could face the same as Pogba but could appeal and avoid a lengthy ban.
Source: Getty Images
Which players have been banned for doping?
Many footballers have faced serious consequences for doping over the years. Some of the most notable cases include Chelsea star Adrian Mutu and the late Diego Maradona, according to Four Four Two.
Mutu and Maradona were banned for using white powder. Dutch star Edgar Davids was banned for four months for doping.
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana was also banned for nine months for using furosemide, used to get rid of excess salt and water.
Other players who served bans include Jaap Stam, Claudio Caniggia, Marco Borriello, and Kolo Toure.
Mykhailo Mudryk facing 4-year ban
In a related story, we reported that Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is facing a four-year ban for doping.
The Ukrainian star was charged by the Football Association (FA) for breaching anti-doping rules after failing a drugs test.
The 24-year-old was provisionally suspended in December 2024 after an "adverse finding in a routine urine test".
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
