Sakho to have hearing on thursday

Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho will plead his case against a suspension for a failed drugs test to UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body on Thursday.

The France international tested positive for a ‘fat burner’ after the Reds’ Europa League tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford in March.

He served a provisional 30-day suspension after opting not to have his B sample tested – meaning he missed the Europa League final defeat to Sevilla and selection for Euro 2016 – but the initial ban was not extended as UEFA launched an investigation into whether the substance Sakho took should even be on the banned list after new evidence came to light recently.

With those enquiries now over an independent disciplinary body will sit in Paris on Thursday when Sakho, who Press Association Sport understands has been given leave from pre-season training, will attend along with his defence team and a representative of Liverpool’s legal department.

The hearing is personal to Sakho so the club official will not speak or make any presentation but will be present in a watching brief.