UEFA Imposes Ten-Month Ban on Athletic's Yeray Alvarez Due to Anti-Doping Offense
Athletic Club's Yeray Alvarez Suspended for Ten Months by UEFA
Yeray Alvarez, a central defender for Athletic Club, has been handed a ten-month suspension by UEFA due to a positive test for a banned substance in an anti-doping control. The ban took effect from June 2, when Alvarez was provisionally suspended, and rules him out until April 2, 2026.
The suspension was handed down after Alvarez tested positive for a banned substance in an anti-doping control following the first leg of the Europa League semi-final against Manchester United in May. Alvarez accepted the suspension in July, admitting fault via a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
UEFA's ruling acknowledges that Alvarez did not intentionally attempt to enhance his performance, but stresses that he is responsible for the banned substance found in his system. The banned substance was ingested by Alvarez accidentally while taking preventive medication for hair loss.
Athletic Club will be without Alvarez for their upcoming Champions League fixture against Paris Saint-Germain on December 10. His absence from training is expected to end on February 2, 2026, when he will be eligible to rejoin his teammates.
The ban will not prevent Alvarez from rejoining training with his teammates from February 2, 2026. However, teams facing Athletic Bilbao during this time might benefit from his absence, as no specific team is mentioned as being strengthened by the suspension.
Despite the suspension, Athletic Club is competing in the Champions League this season. The Basque side's upcoming Champions League fixture is a crunch group fixture, and the team will have to rely on other players to fill the void left by Alvarez.
Alvarez's suspension comes at a difficult time for the player, who has been an important member of the Athletic Club squad in recent seasons. The team will hope that he can return to full fitness and form when he is eligible to return to official competition in April 2026.
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