Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Alvarez has been hit with a 10-month ban after testing positive for a prohibited substance following a Europa League clash against Manchester United last season, European football’s governing body UEFA said on Monday.
Analysis of a sample provided by the player after the game in May “revealed the presence of Canrenone”, a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, UEFA said.
UEFA acknowledged that the 30-year-old took the substance “involuntarily”, with Alvarez saying it been through medicine he was using to combat hair loss following treatment for testicular cancer.
READ ALSO: Super Spain Hit Six As Germany Get First World Cup Qualifying Win
However, he was banned for 10 months, with the start backdated to June when he had accepted a voluntary provisional suspension.
That means Alvarez will be able to return to action at the start of April next year, albeit he will be allowed to return to training with his teammates two months before that.
Alvarez was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2016 and after treatment returned to play in 2017, but suffered a reoccurrence later that year, making a second comeback in 2018.
His positive test came after Athletic’s 3-0 home defeat by United in the Europa League semi-final first leg on May 1.
The news of his ban is a major blow to the Basque club, who will take part in this season’s Champions League.
It comes after a move to bring Spain centre-back Aymeric Laporte back to the club for a second spell from Saudi side Al-Nassr fell through late in the transfer window.
A majestic Spain thrashed Turkey 6-0 away in World Cup qualifying on Sunday, and Mikkel Merino scored a hat-trick, and Germany defeated Northern Ireland 3-1 to start their bid.
As a result of Arsenal’s midfielder Merino’s first professional hat-trick, World Cup champions Spain won their second biggest-ever away win in Konya, taking the title in the central Turkish city of Konya.
Ferran Torres scored the visitors’ other goal after the Barcelona playmaker Pedri Gonzalez opened the scoring after six minutes and finished the scoring.
Spain’s forward #11 Ferran Torres (CL) celebrates with Spain’s forward #19 Lamine Yamal (CR) after scoring the team’s fourth goal in the Turkey-Spain Group E qualifying football match against Spain at Konya Buyuksehir Belediye Stadium on September 7, 2025. (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP)
Merino’s strikes were exceptional, with his best one coming after a strong team move and his best second coming after a confident finish with a Pedri assist. A curling shot into the top corner by him was the third and final part of his triple.
Nico Williams’ withdrawal from the Spanish team’s performance on the night was the only minor issue, but Luis de la Fuente’s team are already top of Group E with six points from two games.
ALCAraz defeats Sinner to win the US Open and wins the title. 1 Position
The first hat-trick of my career came from Merino, who said, “I’m very happy for winning, to pick up six points, to do it in this way, and to score three goals, which is unusual.”
The group winners will advance to the play-off stage while the runners-up will advance to the finals.
Turkey and Spain’s players congratulate each other on September 7, 2025, at the Konya Buyuksehir Belediye Stadium’s Konya Buyuksehir Belediye Stadium during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E qualifying football match. (Photo by Ozan KOSE/AFP)
Georgia and Turkey share the lead with three points, with the latter scoring twice in Tbilisi on the heels of goals from Georges Mikautadze, Nika Gagnidze, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the latter of whom defeated Bulgaria 3-3.
After falling to Slovakia on Thursday to win their opening qualifier, Germany was under pressure, and it didn’t get there until the final quarter of their home match against Northern Ireland in Cologne.
Before half-time, West Bromwich Albion’s Isaac Price scored an equalizer for the hosts after Serge Gnabry gave them an early lead.
The home fans’ dissatisfied with Julian Nagelsmann’s team, but David Raum’s cross was finally turned in by substitute Nadiem Amiri on 69 minutes.
Liverpool’s star, playing in his hometown, then took the lead with a stylish free kick to seal Germany’s first Group A victory.
Wirtz told Germany’s RTL network, “We knew it was a catastrophe (in the) last game and we wanted to do things better.
We can definitely build on it because it was a strong performance.
After Tomas Rigo’s late goal earned them a 1-0 victory in Luxembourg, they both now have three points, while Slovakia leads the way with six.
Depay is a historical moment in Dutch history.
Memphis Depay’s double earned him a career-high two goals in the Netherlands’ 3-2 victory over Lithuania in Group G.
Depay, who is currently playing for Corinthians in Brazil, scored his 51st and 52nd international goals to move clear of Robin van Persie, who had shared first place with him in the Oranje on the opening half-century of goals.
Before Quinten Timber netted the second goal for the Netherlands in Kaunas, the 31-year-old turned in Cody Gakpo’s cutback for the opener.
Before the break, Edvinas Girdvainis headed home the equalizer for the team that was 143rd in the world after Gvidas Gineitis pulled one back and pulled one back for them.
On September 7, 2025, Spain’s defenseman #22, Marc Cucurella (L), and Turkey’s forward #19, Oguz Aydin (R), wrestle for the ball during the group stage football match between Turkey and Spain for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E qualification at Konya Buyuksehir Belediye Stadium. (Photo by Ozan KOSE/AFP)
Depay, however, saved the Netherlands by crossing a Denzel Dumfries cross just before the hour mark.
With a game in hand, Ronald Koeman’s side are now 10 points ahead of Poland in terms of goal difference and have ten points after four games.
Matty Cash, captain Robert Lewandowski, and Jakub Kaminski scored for Poland in Chorzow, where they lost 3-1 to Finland, who are three points adrift in third place.
At Anderlecht’s stadium in Brussels, Belgium defeated Kazakhstan for a second straight 6-0 victory in Group J.
Kevin De Bruyne now leads Romelu Lukaku in goals scored by Kevin De Bruyne, who also scored two goals.
Nicolas Raskin and Thomas Meunier also scored the goals, with Jeremy Doku of Manchester City scoring the other two.
North Macedonia won their fifth game 5-0 over Liechtenstein, which puts them on top with 11 points overall, one point ahead of Belgium, which still has a game to play, and Wales.
President Donald Trump was met by loud boos, mixed with a smattering of cheers, as Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner in four sets to win the US Open in New York on Sunday.
Alcaraz, 22, clinched his sixth Grand Slam title with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, and 6-4 victory, avenging his only other major disappointment, defeat by Sinner at Wimbledon in July.
After completing the Italian’s 27-match winning run at hard-court Grand Slams, Alcaraz will reclaim the top spot from Sinner and claim the top spot in the world for the first time since September 2023.
On day fifteen of the US Open tennis competition at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on September 7, 2025, Italy’s Jannik Sinner speaks after being defeated by Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP)
“I made the best of today. Sinner, who also lost to Alcaraz in the epic French Open final in June, “couldn’t do more,” he said.
The longest drought since Sinner’s defeat extends any Open men’s title defense to a winner extends.
Roger Federer won five US Open titles in a row between 2004 and 2008, and no other player has ever won the title.
With Trump’s presence, anticipation for the third successive Grand Slam final between the sport’s top two players took on a whole new level.
Following his appearances at the NFL’s Super Bowl in February and the FIFA Club World Cup final in July, the US leader made his latest series of appearances at major sporting events.
Before the Star-Spangled Banner was playing, he waving to the crowd, who greeted him with a mix of applause and boos. However, when he was re-aired on the stadium’s large screens later in the match, he received a frostier reception.
Bruce Springsteen, Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Douglas, Stephen Curry, and other sports and entertainment stars were present as well, along with a constellation of stars from the showbiz and the sports.
Trump Visit Delayed Things Off
Due to tighter security measures in place as a result of Trump’s attendance, the final was delayed by 30 minutes so fans could enter Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Even then, when Alcaraz broke Sinner in the match’s opening game, the 23, 000-capacity venue was essentially three-quarters full.
Alcaraz broke a second time for a 5-2 lead before serving out love, just like he did in the Wimbledon final.
At the start of the second set, Alcaraz sought to make the most of the crowd’s interest by putting his own stamp on the situation.
Sinner waited until he reached the break point, belatedly upping his game, and driving a 3-1 lead over the Spaniard who was suffering a brief dip on the serve.
Sinner put a set at one point on offer, but Alcaraz made a second break early in the third, wrigging out of a tight spot on serve with the aid of a stunning baseline smash that cut away from his rival for a 3-0 lead.
He extended the lead with a fourth break before wrapping up the set, keeping his foot down while cornering Sinner once more to start the fourth set.
Sinner saved two break points this time, but Alcaraz delivered the decisive blow in the fifth game, making him the only player to have won multiple majors on grass, clay, and grass courts.
Recent men’s champions of the US Open after Jannik Sinner won the 2025 event in a match win over Carlos Alcaraz:
2025: Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) 2024: Jannik Sinner (ITA) 2023:  , Novak Djokovic (SRB) 2022:  , Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) 2021: Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 2020: Dominic Thiem (AUT) 2019: Rafael Nadal (ESP) 2018: Novak Djokovic (SRB) 2017: Rafael Nadal (ESP) 2016: Stan Wawrinka (SUI)
The Court’s “Queen”
Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s number one, defeated her American rival in straight sets on Saturday to win her fourth Grand Slam title.
Sabalenka ruthlessly defeated Anisimova in a 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium, cementing her position as the pinnacle of women’s tennis.
After suffering agonizing defeats in the Australian and French Open finals, the Belarusian woman had anticipated Saturday’s final knowing it would be her last chance to win the Grand Slam in 2025.
Just two months after her humiliating 6-0, 6-0 defeat by Iga Swiatek in the Wimbledon final, Sabalenka dignified those losses and made amends for them.
“It’s crazy, this was worth it,” said one student. Sabalenka became the first woman to successfully defend the US Open since Serena Williams in 2014, making her the first woman to do so.
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus poses with the trophy after defeating Amanda Anisimova of the USA in the US Open tennis championship’s fourteen-day final in New York City on September 6, 2025. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP)
Anisimova’s winning streak included a Wimbledon semi-final victory in six of her previous six matches against Sabalenka.
However, a determined Sabalenka, who was competing in her seventh career Grand Slam title game, put all of her experience to the test by stumbling on Anisimova’s path to a first Grand Slam title.
Losing two finals in a row is “super hard,” she says. According to Anisimova, “I don’t think I worked hard enough to achieve my dreams today,” revealing that the lighting under the arena’s closed roof had made it difficult to serve.
President Donald Trump was shown on camera booing loudly and cheering him during the US Open tennis final in New York on Sunday.
The venue was subject to lengthy delays before the match between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, with many seats still empty due to additional security checks as a result of Trump’s attendance.
Read more about Trump’s latest high-profile sports performance at the US Open.
Trump Visit Delays Match
Before the match started, hordes of tennis fans fought through security checkpoints as a result of Trump’s attendance at the US Open men’s final on Sunday.
On September 7, 2025, US President Donald Trump greets him as he departs from Air Force One in New York’s LaGuardia Airport. (Photo by Mandel NGAN/AFP)
The billionaire, who was born in New York, was returning to Flushing Meadows after a ten-year absence, joining a number of other celebrities who were competing against top-ranked Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
On day fifteen of the US Open tennis competition at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on September 7, 2025, Italy’s Jannik Sinner takes a shot at Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz. (Photo by Mandel NGAN/AFP)
Trump briefly appeared alongside the company’s CEO and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at Rolex, where the president was previously seen.
Trump’s trade war, one of the highest rates on US trade partners, led to the invitation of the luxury watchmaker.
On day fifteen of the US Open tennis competition at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on September 7, 2025, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz makes a forehand return to Jannik Sinner from Italy. (Photo by Mandel NGAN/AFP)
He waved to the crowd, which greeted him with a mix of cheers and boos when he once more appeared before the Star-Spangled Banner performance.
Trump hasn’t attended the US Open since 2015, when the crowd booed the then-presidential candidate and his wife Melania when they arrived.
Although the Republican leader has support in his hometown, the party is overwhelmingly Democratic.
According to several US media reports, those who watch the Sinner-Alcaraz showdown on television may not witness any unfavorable reactions to the president, with organizers directing broadcasters to refrain from displaying disruptions.
Max Verstappen , won the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday, the reigning world champion slowing McLaren’s dominance of Formula One with a phenomenal display from pole in Monza.
Red Bull’s Verstappen held off Lando Norris and championship leader Oscar Piastri after setting the fastest lap in F1 history when taking top spot on the grid on Saturday.
The Dutchman has little chance of securing a fifth straight drivers ‘ title as he still trails Piastri by 94 points, with the Australian finishing third.
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Piastri leads the driver standings by 31 points from Norris, who finished second, as the top five positions ended up staying as they were on the starting grid of a rapid race.
Red Bull Racing’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen celebrates his victory on the podium after winning the Italian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit, in Monza, northern Italy, on September 7, 2025. (Photo by Philippe Lopez / AFP)
Sunday’s win was just Verstappen’s third of a season dominated by a McLaren car, which has blown away the competition by winning all but four GPs.
But a second win in Italy this year, after triumphing in the last Emilia Romagna GP back in May, caps a historic weekend for the blunt 27-year-old.
Charles Leclerc couldn’t take a podium spot for the massed ranks of Ferrari fans in the stands, the Monegasque finishing fourth.
Leclerc’s teammate Lewis Hamilton gave it his best shot after a five-place grid penalty had him bumped back to 10th at the start, charging up to sixth thanks to some spectacular driving early in the race.
But the seven-time F1 champion couldn’t push past his former Mercedes teammate George Russel and was left with another underwhelming result in his first Monza GP with Ferrari.
Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday criticised the “serious and avoidable” injuries suffered by Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue while on international duty with the France national team.
After the PSG stars were both forced off during France’s 2026 World Cup qualifying win over Ukraine on Friday, their club sent a letter to the French Football Federation (FFF) requesting better “medical and sporting coordination between clubs and the national team”.
PSG, who will be without a hamstrung Dembele for around six weeks and Doue for some four weeks with a calf issue, are “urgently requesting a new protocol… that is more transparent and collaborative” regarding player health, they announced in a statement on their website Sunday.
The European champions said they “had provided the FFF with concrete medical information, even before the French team gathered, on the acceptable workload and injury risks for their players”.
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PSG added they “regret that these medical recommendations were not taken into account by the (national team) medical staff”, as well as criticising “the total lack of consultation with their medical teams”.
The club reaffirmed their commitment to Les Bleus, but added the “serious and avoidable incidents” must serve as a catalyst for change, particularly in the case of players “underdoing treatment for a medical issue”.
“(PSG) hope that these regrettable events will pave the way for the establishment of a new formalised framework for medical coordination, ensuring systematic, documented and reciprocal exchanges between the medical staff of clubs and the national team”, they said.
France coach Didier Deschamps said he sympathised with the French Ligue 1 champions ‘ complaints.
“If I were at a club, I would feel the same way”, he said, before adding: “There is no such thing as zero risk. If you leave players on the bench, you’re not taking any risks…”
The 2018 World Cup winning coach went on to defend Les Bleus ‘ practices.
He cited the examples of William Saliba and Rayan Cherki, of Arsenal and Manchester City respectively, whose pre-existing injuries had been announced by their clubs and who Deschamps allowed to stay at home.
“The protocol stipulates that they must come and have their injuries assessed on Monday morning (at the national team’s training camp)”, he said. “I didn’t make them come”.
Deschamps also added he takes “the player’s feelings” into account when deciding to play them.
Dembele and Doue will miss PSG’s first domestic match after the international break, as well as the start of their Champions League defence at home to Atalanta on September 17.
The pair will also be doubts for the trip to Barcelona in the league phase of Europe’s top club competition at the start of October.
Following a short pre-season after playing key roles in PSG’s run to the Club World Cup final in July, Dembele and Doue had appeared in all three of the Parisian club’s Ligue 1 outings before the international break.
