Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Álvarez apologizes, was found positive in doping test

Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Álvarez has apologized, accepting responsibility after testing positive in a doping test for a banned drug. In this case, he has been suspended for 10 months by UEFA. According to a report by news agency Xinhua, 30-year-old Yeray was suspended after being found positive for canrenone. A banned substance called canrenone was found in his body. It is a substance that is often used to hide drugs.

The drug was present in the treatment he was given when he struggled with hair loss after recovering from cancer twice. The 30-year-old tested positive for canrenone after the 3-0 loss to Manchester United in the Europa League semi-finals in May.

Yeray said he had been taking the drug for this treatment since 2022 and had shared all the information with the club. His girlfriend was also receiving a similar treatment. However, she ran out of medicines a week before the first leg of the Europa League semi-finals.

He said, "I decided to take my partner's pill, thinking it would have exactly the same effect. I did not know that it contained a different substance and that it was banned." He said, "I want to apologize to the Athletic fans and my teammates. These months have been complicated for me. I apologize to everyone. I am going through this situation, but it includes all of you."

He has also announced that he is giving up his salary until April 2, 2026, when he is able to play again. Yeray accepted a 10-month suspension, which is much longer than the three-month suspension handed to tennis player Jannik Sinner last year after testing positive for doping.

"I think a 10-month suspension is fair. It was my mistake, which I have accepted from the beginning," he said. Yeray accepted the provisional suspension on June 2 and the punishment has been implemented from that date. He will be able to play again from April 2, 2026 and join training sessions from February 2, 2026.