UEFA has suspended Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Álvarez for 10 months following a positive doping test. The test occurred after the Spanish club's Europa League semi-final against Manchester United last season.
The 30-year-old centre-back tested positive for a banned substance following Athletic Bilbao's 3-0 defeat to Manchester United in the Europa League semi-final. The positive result was detected in post-match testing procedures conducted by UEFA.
According to The Guardian, the banned substance was canrenone, which is commonly found in hair-loss treatment products. The detection suggests the violation may have occurred inadvertently through medical treatment rather than performance enhancement.
UEFA's classification
UEFA has classified the breach as 'non-intentional', recognising that the positive test likely resulted from medical treatment rather than deliberate doping. This classification influenced the length of the suspension, which could have been more severe for intentional violations.
Athletic Bilbao will be without their experienced centre-back for the majority of the current season. The club are currently competing in the Champions League, where they face Newcastle United in the group stage.
Sources used: "The Guardian", "Mirror", "Manchester Evening News", "Chronicle Live" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
