Why Athletes Should Be Careful with Hair Loss Combination Medications

A few days ago, an article with the provocative headline, "He was caught doping because of hair loss medication," caught my eye.

The unusual combination of hair loss medicine and doping was intriguing enough to make me click.

After reading the article, it was exactly as the title said.

It really was because of a hair loss treatment.

The banned drug involved in the doping case, spironolactone

Source - Getty Images Korea

Yeray Álvarez

The drug Yeray Álvarez is believed to have taken is spironolactone.

There has not yet been an official announcement, but major overseas media outlets such as Reuters and El País have consistently pointed to this ingredient.

Spironolactone is originally a diuretic, but because it also suppresses androgen receptors, it is used to treat hair loss, acne, and hirsutism as well.

The problem is that this drug is a banned substance included in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) category "S5 – Diuretics and Masking Agents."

Because it can dilute or eliminate traces of other drugs through its diuretic effect,

if it is detected, regardless of the intent behind taking it, it is considered an anti-doping violation.

Yeray says he used it for hair loss treatment and not for doping purposes.

It is possible to apply retroactively for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), but without prior approval, it is difficult to have it recognized in reality.

Combination medications also used in Korea

Source - Pharmaceutical Information Center

Spironolactone

In Korea as well, spironolactone is relatively commonly prescribed at clinics and hospitals under the names "combination medication" or "compound medication."

I myself have written several times on this blog about the reality of these combination medications and the precautions to keep in mind.

They contain a mixture of various ingredients intended to relieve symptoms and offset side effects, but the problem is that banned substances may be hidden in them.

In particular, combination medications used for female hair loss or acne treatment are highly likely to contain spironolactone.

Athletes must carefully check the ingredients of any medicine they take.

It can be dangerously complacent to assume, "It came from the dermatologist, so it should be fine."

This responsibility must be shared not only by the athlete personally, but also by the team doctor, agent, and club.

Yeray Álvarez, an icon of human triumph

The reason this case draws even more attention is Yeray Álvarez himself and his past.

Yeray Álvarez is not just a soccer player; he is a true symbol of human triumph, having already overcome testicular cancer twice.

In the winter of 2016, Yeray was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

At the time, he was a key defender for his team and had a bright future as a national team player.

He underwent surgery immediately and returned to the pitch just 46 days later.

Coincidentally, that day was World Cancer Day.

But a few months later, the cancer recurred, and he had to endure another long course of chemotherapy.

His hair fell out and his stamina hit rock bottom, but he did not give up.

His teammates showed solidarity by shaving their heads to support him, and in the end, he was declared cancer-free in 2018 and returned to the field.

Fans remember him as a symbol of human triumph.

And now, because of a single hair loss treatment, he is once again at a crossroads in his career. The tearful story of his journey is being shaken once again in front of the word spironolactone.

A small mistake, a big price

Some may say: can using a hair loss treatment really put a career at risk?

But anti-doping rules are much stricter than that, and fairness in sports is a value that must be protected with great care.

The message this case sends us is clear.

Even one hair loss treatment can determine the entire life of an athlete.

Just as it was for Park Tae-hwan in the past.

Careful checking of each ingredient, along with accurate guidance and systems from the relevant institutions, is necessary.

It is now time for hairhair, this was Kim Jin-oh.

Pilsaengsinmo (必生新毛).

[In accordance with Article 56, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Service Act, this post is being written directly by a board-certified plastic surgeon for informational purposes. Hair loss surgery and treatment may have side effects, so please make a careful decision after consulting with a specialist.]