Athletic Bilbao Yeray Alvarez claims blame alopecia medicine for a failed medication test
The central sports defender of Bilbao, Yeray Alvarez, was temporarily suspended after having tested positive for a prohibited substance, which he claims to have inadvertently taken in the context of treatment for alopecia.
Alvarez tested positive after Athletic’s 3-0 defeat against Manchester United in the Europa League semi-finals on May 1.
The defender, who received a testicular cancer diagnosis in 2016, insists that he has never knowingly taken a prohibited substance and that his positive test came from medicine used to treat hair loss.
In a statement published on his social media accounts, Alvarez wrote: “A few weeks ago, I was told that I was tested positive in a doping control carried out by UEFA after the first stage of the Europa League semi-finals against Manchester United. Receiving this news was a very hard blow and, honestly, I could not believe it, because I never used substances in my life.
“Since I have overcome my illness, I have been undergoing treatment against alopecia for years and, after studying the case, we found that the positive was because I involuntarily took a preventive drug against hair loss which contained a prohibited substance.
– Yeray (@ Yerayalvarez4) July 10, 2025
“The disciplinary procedure is currently in the investigation phase and subject to confidentiality, so I am temporarily suspended and I am not authorized to make additional public declarations.
“I want to tell you that I am really sorry for this situation, but that with the support of the club, I work in my defense with the conviction of being able to return to the playgrounds as soon as possible. Once the process is finished, I will give all the necessary explanations.
“I would like to thank Athletic Club for his support and support from the first moment and express my confidence in justice and sports institutions.”
Athletic added in a statement on their website: “As Yeray himself pointed out, the procedure is in the investigation phase and subject to confidentiality, so that the club is not authorized to make additional public declarations on this subject.
“Once the process is over, Yeray Alvarez and the Athletic club will offer all the relevant and necessary explanations.
“The athletics club wishes to express its full support for Yeray Álvarez at that time and its full confidence in the bodies responsible for solving the case.”
