Alvarez gets 10-month ban for failed drugs test

Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Alvarez has been banned for 10 months by Uefa after failing a drugs test.

The 30-year-old tested positive for banned substance canrenone following a 3-0 defeat by Manchester United in the Europa League semi-finals in May.

Canrenone is a diuretic that can sometimes be used as a masking agent.

Spaniard Alvarez said in July that he mistakenly ingested the substance when taking a preventative medicine for hair loss which contained canrenone.

Alvarez, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2016, said he had been taking the medicine as part of his treatment for alopecia ever since.

Uefa accepted his explanation and said he did not intend to take a banned substance, but he was found guilty of committing a "non-intentional anti-doping rule violation".

Given Alvarez accepted a provisional suspension in June, the sanction has been backdated.

He will be able to play again from 2 April 2026 and can rejoin training sessions from 2 February.

Alvarez has made 257 appearances for Bilbao since coming through the academy.