Uefa investigates Liverpool’s Sakho after dope test failure
Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho is being investigated by Uefa over a failed drugs test after last month’s Europa League game against Manchester United.
Although Sakho is not yet subject to a Uefa suspension, the club announced Saturday that he will not play for the Europa League semifinalists while the investigation is underway. Sakho scored one of the goals in Liverpool’s 4-3 quarterfinal victory last week over Borussia Dortmund to set up a semifinal meeting with Villarreal. A fat-burning substance was detected in a drug test taken after Liverpool’s round of 16 game at Premier League rival United on March 17, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing, with Sakho yet to ask for his backup sample to be tested.
Sakho has until Tuesday to respond to UEFA, whose website made no mention of the drugs investigation in its disciplinary section. Liverpool was only informed by UEFA on Friday of the investigation. Discussions between the Fenway Sports Group ownership, led by John Henry, manager Juergen Klopp and Sakho led to the decision to remove the player from consideration for selection. “A formal communication was received from UEFA stating that they are investigating a possible anti-doping rule violation by Mamadou Sakho,” Liverpool said in a statement. “The player will respond to UEFA on the matter.
“The player is currently not subject to any playing suspension. 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.” Sakho was replaced in the team for Saturday’s Premier League game against Newcastle by Kolo Toure, who was banned for six months by the English Football Association in 2011 while playing for Manchester City for taking banned water tablets to control his weight. If Sakho received the same length ban as Toure it would rule him out of the June 10-July 11 European Championship on home soil in France.