Due to the strict liability stance which underpins the doping policy, the France worldwide will have to satisfactorily explain how a prohibited substance was found in his sample.
Advertisement
Although it’s yet to be confirmed by Liverpool, reports to suggest that Sakho is guilty of having used a “fat burner” drug, which is on UEFA’s banned list.
Sakho, 26, was left out of the Liverpool squad at the weekend after UEFA flagged up a potential violation as a result of a test following the club’s Europa League tie at Manchester United last month.
The Liverpool defender is not believed to have requested the testing of the “B” sample and if true it would indicate he has accepted the initial findings.
Although Sakho is still now eligible to play, Liverpool said he and the club had decided he would not be selected until the issue of the failed test had been resolved.
In the meantime, though, Sakho will continue to be unavailable for selection, and he will not travel with the team to Spain for tomorrow’s Europa League semi-final first leg match against Villarreal.
The Guardian theorise that because Sakho’s accepting the results of his A-sample, his inevitable suspension will begin earlier – thus meaning he’ll be back in action sooner.
Advertisement
Sakho could face a ban from the sport for 6 months or more, which will see him miss the rest of this season and most of the 2016/17 season. Any such ban would rule Sakho out of the remainder of Liverpool’s season, and the summer’s European Championships – set to be held in his home country.
