Yeray’s Return: A New Chapter for Athletic Club

Athletic Club is jubilantly welcoming back Yeray, as the team shared breakfast on Monday at the club’s facilities before commencing their training routines. The central defender, who has logged 10 seasons and 257 matches with the first team, approaches this day, February 2, with the excitement of a debutant. After a lengthy suspension process, he steps onto the training grounds at Lezama for the first time since being penalized for a doping violation during the UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg match against Manchester United. His return to training marks the initial step towards re-entering competitive play, which is set for April 2.

At 31 years old, Yeray faced a 10-month ban from UEFA due to the consumption of a substance derived from a hair loss treatment. The ruling highlighted that there was no intentional doping involved; rather, the player inadvertently ingested the banned substance by taking medication meant for his partner, as he had run out of his usual prescription. Throughout the pre-season and the first part of the current season, he was forced to train alone.

This sanction hindered his ability to train with the team and fully participate in club life, making Monday’s gathering particularly significant for him. In August, he engaged in a few training sessions with Derio, an amateur club, but that option was quickly dismissed due to potential compliance risks that could affect both him and the hosting club.

Yeray will now adhere to a long-term training plan, as he will not be eligible for competition until April 2. His contract is set to expire in June, and during his suspension, he opted not to receive a salary. “Rules are meant to be followed, and it is important to look forward. I informed the club that my salary will not exist during the time I am unable to compete due to suspension,” he stated during a press conference held last September to clarify his situation.