Athletic Club Players Are Even Punished By UEFA For Consumption Of Cancer Drugs

JAKARTA - Athletic Club player Yeray Alvarez was sentenced to 10 months of playing ban by UEFA on Monday, September 8, 2025, local time, for failing a banned substance test due to taking hair loss prevention drugs for cancer treatment.

The Spanish defender failed a drug test after Athletic lost to Manchester United in the Europa League semi-finals in May 2025 and received a temporary suspension in June 2025.

Following an investigation by two inspectors from the UEFA Department of Ethics and Discipline, the European football regulatory body has suspended Alvarez for 10 months.

The ban will expire on April 2, 2026 and applies to all competitions. UEFA confirmed that it can train and use club facilities starting February 2, 2026.

Alvarez, a 30-year-old defender, had to leave football in 2017 for several months to treat tester cancer.

After returning to play, he took the drug to fight alopecia. He argued that the cause of his positive result in the doping test was because he accidentally took a hair loss prevention drug that contained a prohibited substance. UEFA confirmed the substance as Canrenone.

Alvarez confirmed his temporary suspension in July 2025 through a post on social media, in which he said that the hair loss prevention drug contained a banned substance.

"After studying this case, we have determined that I tested positive because I accidentally took a hair loss prevention drug that contained a prohibited substance."

"The disciplinary procedure is currently being investigated and confidential, so I was temporarily suspended. I am not authorized to make further public statements."

"I deeply regret this situation, but with the support of the club, I am trying to defend myself with the belief that I will be able to return to play as soon as possible," Alvarez said.

Meanwhile, Athletic will play in the Champions League this season after finishing fourth in La Liga 2024/2025.