Athletic Club defender Yeray Alvarez has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance. The test followed the club’s Europa League semi-final match against Manchester United on May 1st.
The 30-year-old centre-back said the substance was taken “involuntarily” through medication used to treat hair loss. Alvarez has been using the medication since recovering from testicular cancer.
“After overcoming my illness, I have been taking a treatment against alopecia for years,” he said.
“After studying the issue, we have found out that the positive test came because I involuntarily took a preventative medicine against hair loss which contained a prohibited substance.”
Alvarez was first diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2016. He returned to play in 2017, but suffered a recurrence later that year and made a second comeback in 2018.
He added: “The disciplinary proceedings are currently in an investigatory phase and confidential, so I am provisionally suspended and I am not authorised to make further public comment.”
Alvarez featured in the second leg against Manchester United and also played two more La Liga games before the season ended. He said he received notice of the positive test result “a few weeks ago”.
“I could not believe it, given that never in my life have I taken prohibited substances,” said Alvarez.
Athletic Club said in a statement that they “lament the human error of Yeray” and pledged to support the defender during this time. The club added that they could not make further comments.
UEFA has not yet responded to requests for comment.
