A player who featured for Athletic Bilbao in their Europa League semi-final first leg against Manchester United has been suspended after he tested positive for a prohibited substance following the game.
Yeray Alvarez, who played the full 90 minutes against Ruben Amorim's side on May 1, failed a doping test in the aftermath of Bilbao's 3-0 defeat to United and has now been provisionally suspended by the Spanish FA pending an investigation.
The 30-year-old defender, meanwhile, claims he took the substance unintentionally through medicine he was using to combat hair loss following treatment for testicular cancer.
Yeray was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2016 and after undergoing an operation, he was cleared to play again. However, a medical check-up revealed that his cancer has returned in June 2017, forcing him to undergo chemotherapy.
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In a statement posted on his social media channels, Alvarez opened up on the situation in detail.
"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," he said.
"Receiving this 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 overcoming my illness, I have been undergoing treatment for alopecia for years, and after reviewing the case, we have determined that the positive result was due to my unintentional ingestion of a hair loss preventative medication containing a prohibited substance.
"The disciplinary proceedings are currently under investigation and are subject to confidentiality, so I am provisionally suspended and not authorised 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 defence, confident that I can return to the field as soon as possible. Once the process is complete, I will provide all the necessary explanations."
Alvarez added: "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."
Athletic Bilbao release statement after Yeray Alvarez is suspended
The La Liga club say they have "complete confidence" in the bodies charged with resolving the case involving Alvarez.
"Athletic Club regrets Yeray's human error and shows its full support," they said in a statement. "The player has posted a message on social media explaining that an error in his hair loss treatment has caused a positive result in a UEFA test.
"As Yeray himself has stated, the proceedings are currently under investigation and are subject to confidentiality, so the Club is not authorized to make any further public statements on this matter. Once the proceedings are concluded, Yeray Álvarez and Athletic Club will offer all the pertinent and necessary explanations."
The club added: "Athletic Club wishes to express its full support for Yeray Álvarez at this time and its complete confidence in the bodies charged with resolving the case."
Topics: Athletic Bilbao, Manchester United, Europa League, La Liga, Spain
Jack Kenmare