Spanish Footballer Jerai Alvares Suspended 10 Months After Doping Violation Linked to Hair Loss Treatment
Bilbao, Spain – athletic Bilbao defender Jerai Alvares has been handed a 10-month suspension by UEFA after testing positive for a prohibited substance, the club announced August 8. The violation stems from a doping test conducted following Bilbao’s 2024-25 UEFA Europa League semi-final match against Manchester United in May.
Alvares, a veteran of 257 games for Bilbao as 2016 and a former Spanish U-21 international, inadvertently ingested the banned substance through medication taken for hair loss – a condition resulting from treatment for testicular cancer he battled and overcame. While UEFA acknowledged Alvares’s lack of intent to cheat, the governing body maintains the player is responsible for ensuring any medication taken complies with anti-doping regulations.
The suspension is retroactive to June 2, 2025, meaning Alvares is eligible to return to play on April 2, 2026.He will be permitted to rejoin team training on February 2, 2026, two months prior to his return to competitive matches.
Alvares was initially diagnosed with testicular cancer in December 2016, shortly after making his professional debut. He underwent surgery and chemotherapy, successfully returning to the first team in February 2018 after a courageous fight against the disease. The hair loss treatment was a consequence of his cancer battle.
Bilbao stated Alvares voluntarily accepted the disciplinary action. His current contract with the club expires on June 30 of next year, leaving his future with the team uncertain beyond his suspension.
