UEFA Comes Hard on Spanish Star After Positive Doping Test Following Man United Match

Athletic Club Bilbao defender Yeray Alvarez has been handed a 10-month ban by UEFA, the European football governing body announced.

The 30-year-old Spaniard tested positive for canrenone on May 1, following the first leg of the Europa League semi-final against Manchester United. Canrenone is a diuretic classified as a masking agent for doping substances.

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Alvarez stated that he unknowingly ingested the prohibited substance through medication for hair loss, a side effect of his testicular cancer treatment. His ban is retroactive to June 2, 2025, the date he agreed to a provisional suspension, and will conclude on April 2, 2026. He has not played any matches this season, having already accepted the provisional suspension.

Alvarez was first diagnosed with testicular cancer in December 2016 and underwent surgery. He returned to the pitch in February 2017. However, in June of that year, he was diagnosed with cancer again.

He underwent chemotherapy and made his return to play in 2018. His club, Bilbao, for whom he has played for nearly a decade, announced that Alvarez will address the situation in an upcoming press conference. He is permitted to rejoin training on February 2nd, two months before his ban expires. His first competitive match will not be until June 2nd.