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Athletic Club's Yeray Alvarez suspended until April by UEFA for doping

Yeray Alvarez in action against Manchester United during last season's Europa League
Yeray Alvarez in action against Manchester United during last season's Europa LeagueJose Breton / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP
UEFA have suspended Athletic Club defender Yeray Alvarez for doping after the 30-year-old tested positive during the Europa League semi-final against Manchester United.

Football's European governing body said that the Basque player did not intentionally dope; instead, he ingested his wife's preventive medicine for hair loss.

The ban was also backdated to June 2nd, meaning Yeray will be unable to play for Athletic Club until April 2nd, and will be able to train with the side from early February.

"At its meeting on 19 August 2025, the relevant UEFA disciplinary body decided to suspend the player for ten (10) months, starting from the date of the provisional suspension (i.e. 2 June 2025) and ending on 2 April 2026, for committing a non-intentional anti-doping rule violation," UEFA said.

"In accordance with Article 10.14.2 of the UEFA Anti-Doping Regulations, the player may return to train with a team or use the facilities of a club in the last two months of his period of ineligibility, i.e. as of 2 February 2026."

Athletic Club will be without the defender for their first Champions League campaign since 2015, whilst also missing the majority of their domestic football in LaLiga and the Copa del Rey.

They face Alaves this weekend following the international break - follow it with Flashscore.

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