UEFA confirms drugs BAN after star tests positive following Man Utd clash

Robin Bairner

• 8 Sept 2025 11:45 BST
• 7 min read

News

UEFA has confirmed that it has banned a former Spain U21 star who turned out against Manchester United last season.

Yeray Alvarez, a 30-year-old centre-back, who has played his whole career Athletic Club, admitted in July that he had tested positive “unintentionally” after taking hair-loss medication related to the treatment he had been receiving for testicular cancer.

Alvarez, a former Spain U21 international who has twice appeared on the bench for the senior squad, had played the full match against United in a 3-0 loss in May, which was the first leg of a Europa League semi-final.

Current ETV

Yeray Álvarez 

D (C)

Athletic

Yeray Álvarez 

D (C)

Athletic

€4M

ETV Range

€3.2M - €4.8M

View full profile

He becomes the highest-profile player to fail such a test since former Man Utd star Paul Pogba in September 2023. The World Cup winner was handed an 18-month ban and has now signed with Monaco but has yet to play a competitive match.

On Alvarez, UEFA confirmed: “On 1 May 2025, Athletic Club player Yeray Alvarez underwent an in-competition doping control carried out by UEFA following a UEFA Europa League match.

“The analysis of the player’s sample by a WADA-accredited laboratory revealed the presence of Canrenone, which is a substance prohibited in- and out- of competition under the category S5. Diuretics and Masking Agents of the 2025 WADA Prohibited List.

“On 2 June 2025, the player accepted a voluntary provisional suspension having effect from that date.

“Following the opening of disciplinary proceedings against the player on 10 June 2025, two UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors conducted an investigation and the case was submitted to the UEFA disciplinary bodies for decision.

“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.”

Alvarez has played 257 career games for Athletic but faces an uncertain future as his contract expires at the end of the season.

Yeray Alvarez’s cancer battle

Alvarez had previously commented on the situation in a social media post, highlighting that misunderstanding that he feels led to this outcome.

"After studying the case, we have established that I tested positive because I unintentionally took a hair loss prevention medicine containing a banned substance," Alvarez said on his Instagram page.

"The disciplinary procedure is currently under investigation and subject to confidentiality so I am provisionally suspended and am not authorised to make any further public statements.

"I very much regret this situation but, with the support of the club, I am working on my defence in the belief that I will be able to return to the field of play as soon as possible."

Alvarez previously battled testicular cancer, with the chemotherapy used in his successful fight against the disease, causing hair loss.

At that time, the Athletic squad shaved their hair in support of the player, who missed representing Spain in the 2017 U21 European Championship as a result.

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