NYON, Switzerland – UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Mamadou Sakho after the Liverpool defender failed a doping test.
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Sakho now faces a lengthy ban as a result of the positive test in news that will come as a blow to his club and country.
The France worldwide is understood to have opted not to request a test of his B sample ahead of Tuesday’s deadline after initial results revealed traces of a fat-burning substance.
Liverpool left Sakho out of their squad for last weekend’s game against Newcastle United but Jurgen Klopp, his manager, insisted no suspension had been handed out.
Liverpool are refusing to comment on what they say is a private matter, but yesterday’s deadline passed without the player asking Uefa to test his B sample.
Liverpool sidelined the France worldwide on Saturday, April 23 pending the result of a doping investigation that could rule him out of the European Championship in June.
Sakho had until Tuesday to request testing on his “B” sample but did not take the option, instead accepting the result of the first test.
The France international’s season is over after he failed a drugs test following last month’s Europa League clash with Manchester United.
UEFA has now elected to suspend the player for a month while an investigation is undertaken.
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“The date of the disciplinary hearing will be announced at a later stage”. However, the club, in consultation with the player, has decided that while this process is followed the player will not be available for selection for matches.
