Yeray Álvarez Set for Athletic Bilbao Return After Suspension Ends

Athletic Bilbao central defender Yeray Álvarez is preparing to return to action on April 2nd, following the conclusion of his suspension for an involuntary doping violation. His ban, which began on June 2, 2025, is set to conclude, making him officially available for his team's La Liga match against Getafe.

The origins of the case date back to May 2025, when tests revealed a prohibited substance that the player had consumed accidentally through a hair loss product. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) confirmed in its decision that this consumption was unintentional. Information clarified that the defender used a product belonging to his partner after his own specific treatment, related to the aftermath of previous chemotherapy, had run out. This led disciplinary bodies to establish a return timeline that ends in early April.

The player has actually been participating in group training since last February, in accordance with the decision issued by continental football authorities in August of last year. Yeray Álvarez is now ready to reinforce his club's defensive line after overcoming this crisis, adding to a series of personal challenges he has faced in recent years, including his previous recovery from cancer, first diagnosed in December 2016.