Liverpool centre-back Mamadou Sakho has reportedly opted to accept the results of his failed drug test, with the Frenchman now facing a lengthy ban from the sport.
The French international defender was alleged to have used an illegal ‘fat-burning’ substance and was caught after tests were conducted following Liverpool’s Europa League tie against Manchester united.
According to Sky Sports, UEFA had given the defender a deadline till Tuesday during which he could request testing on another sample, but it has been reported that he has refused to take up the option and has instead accepted the results of the initial test.
Sakho is not the only player in the Liverpool dressing room to have failed a drugs test. Team-mate and fellow defender Kolo Toure was banned by the Football Association during his time at Manchester City for 6 months for testing positive for an illegal substance.
Sakho faces lengthy ban
Sakho has not officially been suspended by Liverpool and the club have not made any comments regarding the matter so far, but he was left out of the squad against Newcastle and is not with the squad for Liverpool’s Europa League semi-final tie against Villarreal either.
As things stand, Sakho is set to face a lengthy ban even if he pleads ignorance. His 2015/16 season is surely over and it is highly unlikely that France national team manager Didier Deschamps will be allowed to name him in his squad for this summer’s Euros.
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. The incident comes as a huge and untimely blow for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool, for whom Sakho has been a stand-out performer throughout the season.
