Athletic Club star suspended after failed doping test | OneFootball

A leading member of the defensive ranks at La Liga outfit Athletic Club has been hit with a UEFA-enforced suspension.

As much was confirmed by the player himself, in Yeray Álvarez, late this week.

The 30-year-old underwent an anti-doping test on the back of Athletic’s Europa League semi-final first-leg meeting with Manchester United back in early May.

And as confirmed by club and player alike over the last 24 hours, it has since been revealed that Yeray failed as much.

The defender, in turn, has since moved to provide an explanation for the situation.

In a lengthy statement released across his social media platforms, Yeray assured that the ‘banned substance’ found came owing to an alopecia medicine, made use of in the aftermath of his treatment for testicular cancer:

‘A few weeks ago, I was informed that I had tested positive in a UEFA doping test after the first leg of the Europa League semi-final against Manchester United. Receiving that news was a huge blow, and I honestly couldn’t believe it, given that I’ve never used any banned substances in my life.

‘Since I overcame my illness, I’ve been undergoing treatment for alopecia for years, and after studying the case, we’ve determined that the positive result was due to my unintentional ingestion of a hair loss preventative medication that contained a prohibited substance.

‘The disciplinary proceedings are currently under investigation and are subject to confidentiality, so I am provisionally suspended and not authorized to make any further public statements.

‘I want to tell you all that I deeply regret this situation, but with the Club’s support, I am working on my defense, confident that I can return to the field as soon as possible. Once the process is complete, I will provide all the necessary explanations.

‘I want to thank Athletic Club for their support and backing from the very beginning and express my confidence in the justice system and sports institutions.’

Conor Laird – GSFN