UEFA have reportedly suspended Yeray Alvarez until April 2026 after failing a drug test after Athletic Bilbao’s 3-0 loss to Manchester United in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final in May.
The 30-year-old Alvarez played the entire game as United defeated Bilbao handily at home. United defeated the Liga side again at Old Trafford the following week, advancing to the final with a 7-1 aggregate victory.
According to The Mirror, UEFA announced in a statement on Monday morning that Alvarez would be suspended from competition for 10 months and he can resume training in early February 2026.
UEFA Release Statement
The statement read: “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.
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“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.
“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.
“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.”
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