MADRID (AFP) - Athletic Bilbao's Carlos Gurpegui returns to Spanish league action at Real Madrid on Sunday following a two-year suspension for doping.

Athletic coach Joaquin Caparros said the 27-year-old midfielder would be in the starting line-up at the Santiago-Bernabeu stadium.

Spanish sporting authorities punished Gurpegui with a two-year ban after he tested positive for the steroid nandrolone at the Basque derby against Real Sociedad in the first league fixture of the 2002/2003 season.

However, because of the legal fight put up by the club and the player over his innocence he continued to play until he was finally suspended in 2006.