Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Álvarez has been provisionally suspended following a positive doping test linked to the use of a medication for alopecia, which he says was taken unintentionally.
The 30-year-old tested positive after Bilbao’s 3–0 loss to Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League semi-final on May 1.
Álvarez explained that the medication was part of his treatment for hair loss, following his battle with testicular cancer in 2016. He expressed shock at the result, describing it as a “very hard blow.”
“After a thorough review of the case, it was determined that the positive result was due to the unintentional intake of a hair loss treatment that contained a banned substance,” he said in a post on social media.
“The disciplinary proceedings are currently ongoing and under confidentiality. As a result, I have been provisionally suspended and cannot make further public comments at this time.”
“I deeply regret this situation. However, with the full support of the club, I am working on my defence and remain hopeful of returning to the pitch as soon as possible.”
UEFA has confirmed to BBC Sport that it will not comment on the matter until a final decision is reached.
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