Liverpool and Mamadou Sakho have mutually agreed that our defender won’t be picked indefinitely, after the centre-back failed a drug test for a pharmaceutical fat burner, reports French publication RMC Sport.
Tony Barrett has also confirmed the news:
Mamadou Sakho has been suspended by Liverpool after failing a drugs test.
— Tony Barrett (@TonyBarretTimes) April 23, 2016
Liverpool have clarified that Sakho has not been suspended but he will not be selected while the process is ongoing.
— Tony Barrett (@TonyBarretTimes) April 23, 2016
Sakho was not aware he was breaking the rules by consuming the substance, and is desperate to prove his innocence – and has therefore agreed to the suspension mutually with the club – who are similarly keen to set the record straight.
Liverpool released this statement via the official website:
Yesterday, Friday 22nd April 2016, a formal communication was received from UEFA stating that they are investigating a possible anti-doping rule violation by Mamadou Sakho.
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.
There will be no further comment at this time.
Sakho has been in terrific recent form for Liverpool, and has not been officially banned from playing yet by UEFA, but the club have decided to pull him out of the way for the time being – meaning it looks like he’ll be unavailable for the upcoming Europa League semi-final legs with Villarreal.
This could have an enormous effect on the rest of our season, and the gloss of our great run of form has been taken off by this worrying, potentially damaging news.