UK Edition
Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho free to play at Euro 2016
Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho may be free to play in the European Championships after UEFA ended his ban and opened a fresh investigation into whether he violated anti-doping laws.
Sakho’s provisional 30 game suspension for failing a drugs test ended on Saturday and it has not been extended by the governing body while fresh scientific evidence is considered.
The French defender was suspended following the alleged violation against Manchester United in the Europa League. Liverpool were awaiting a date for a hearing, but UEFA will first take further action to establish if doping laws were infringed.
Sakho’s legal representatives argued the substance in the fat-burning pill taken by the player should not be listed as a prohibited substance by UEFA. They have offered scientific advice which they claim raises doubts as to whether the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) should consider the pills illegal.
UEFA have now opted to initiate a separate investigation to establish if the slimming pills do indeed contain any illegal substance.
“The 30-day provisional suspension ends today,” read a UEFA statement.
“The chairman of the control, ethics and disciplinary body decided not to extend it. The player would thus be free to play as from tomorrow. A decision on the case will be made within the next few days.”
In the meantime, it gives the France manager Didier Deschamps the opportunity to select the 26-year-old for the host nation of Euro 2016.
The final French squad is selected on May 31. There will still be an element of risk including the player with the shadow still over him, especially if UEFA determine the fat-burning pills were illegal.
Disciplinary proceedings are not over, and there are still difficult questions for Sakho to answer given he took the pills without the consent of his club. Liverpool are making no comment on the latest developments and have left the player to make his own representations throughout.
Nevertheless, it is a more encouraging development for the player who seemed to be facing an inevitable lengthy ban if found guilty of an offence.
Sakho admitted he took pills to aid weight issues during the course of last season, but was prepared to argue he had no idea they contained any banned substances.
His ban ensured he missed both the semi-final and final of the Europa League having become a key figure in Jurgen Klopp’s defence since the German coach took charge of Anfield.
Should it be proven the pills did not contain a banned substance after all, he will be free to continue his Anfield career at the start of the season and Liverpool may have less need to add another centre-back to their summer spending plans.
It remains to be seen if he would still face any internal punishment from the Merseyside club for taking a substance without informing the club’s medical staff.