Athletic Club Bilbao
Image Credits: Athletic Club
The first leg of the Europa League semi-final on Thursday, 1st May saw Manchester United comfortably beat Athletic Club 3-0 at San Mames Barria, with Bruno Fernandes netting a brace and Casemiro also on the scoresheet.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CENTREDEVILS WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!
The result put United in a commanding position.
Although the Red Devils went on to win the second leg 4-1, their European hopes ended in disappointment after losing the final to Tottenham Hotspur.
A final which of course, meant United finished the season without qualifying for European football.
However, the first-leg against Bilbao has now taken a dark turn.
It circulated earlier today that Bilbao defender Yeray Alvarez has tested positive for a doping test, which took place just after the first-leg.
He made 5 clearances and 3 recoveries, and also earned a yellow card in the second half, as per FotMob.
Yeray is provisionally suspended under further notice and remains under investigation.
The 30-year-old released a statement on X, where he confirmed the result and attributed it to treatment for alopecia.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CENTREDEVILS WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!
He says it involved a preventive medication that unknowingly contained a banned substance.
Athletic Club have now officially addressed the situation, releasing a statement via their club website.
In it, the Basque side said they “regret Yeray’s human error” and offered their full support to the defender during this difficult period.
The club confirmed that, as Yeray himself explained, the positive test was the result of an error in his alopecia treatment.
Which included a preventive medication that unknowingly contained a banned substance.
They also made clear that, due to the case currently being in the investigation phase and subject to confidentiality, no further public statements will be made until the process has been concluded.
“As Yeray himself has pointed out, the procedure is in the investigation phase and subject to confidentiality.
“So the club is not authorised to make additional public statements on this matter.”
Once that happens, Yeray Alvarez and Athletic Club will offer all necessary and pertinent explanations.
The statement ended with the club reiterating its “full confidence in the bodies in charge of resolving the case.
“Athletic Club wishes to express its full support for Yeray Alvarez at this time.”
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CENTREDEVILS WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!