8 September 2025
UEFA announced a 10-month suspension for Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Alvarez after testing positive for a prohibited substance during a doping test conducted on May 1, 2025. The analysis, conducted by a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratory following a Europa League match, revealed the presence of canrenone, a substance included in the S5 list of prohibited substances, which includes diuretics and coating agents.
On June 2, 2025, the player accepted a voluntary provisional suspension. On June 10, 2025, UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against him, before the Ethics and Disciplinary Body issued its final decision to suspend him until April 2, 2026.
The committee confirmed that the violation was not intentional, as the investigation revealed that the substance entered the player's body as a result of taking a hair loss preventative medication for his partner, which contained the prohibited substance. Despite the absence of intent to use drugs, UEFA emphasized that the player bears full responsibility for his actions, in accordance with the regulations.
Under the decision, Alvarez can return to training and use club facilities starting February 2, 2026, two months before the end of his ban.
The club issued an official statement, saying: "Following the conclusion of the investigation, a decision has been made to suspend our player Yeray Alvarez for ten months."
The federation acknowledged that "there was no intentional use of prohibited substances, and that the matter was the result of an unintentional error. However, the player remains responsible for ensuring the safety of any medication he uses."
