Liverpool French defender Mamadou Sakho could avoid punishment from UEFA this week and wouldn’t be considered for selection says French boss Didier Deshamps.
Reports in France suggest the defender will be cleared of a doping offence this week after he was found to have a fat burner in a sample he submitted following Liverpool’s Europa League tie with Manchester United at Old Trafford on March 17.
Sakho’s lawyers believe the contents of the fat burning product are not on UEFA’s list of banned substances and feel no further action should be taken, with a decision set for this week.
The former PSG defender is now free to resume his career after serving a 30-day provisional suspension and it was claimed that he could be a late call-up to the French squad after Deschamps suffered a defensive blow when Raphael Varane and Jeremy Mathieu withdrew through injury.
Adil Rami and Samuel Umtiti have been called in to fill the gaps for the injured duo but, when asked whether a potential Sakho return was on his mind, Deschamps said: “Seriously? No. Or I would have no respect for the players I have already selected.
“When I made my selection there was no evidence that the outcome would be positive [for Sakho], even if it requires confirmation.”
France begin their Euros campaign against Romania in Paris on June 10.
