Liverpool defender, Mamadou Sakho, could face a ban for testing positive for a banned substance after the second leg of the Europa League last-16 tie with Manchester United.
French Radio Station, RMC radio, reported that Sakho failed a dope test following the use of a fat-burning drug as an aid to weight loss.
Liverpool did not provide details of the substance but said they had received a formal communication from UEFA on Friday.
A club statement said that UEFA was “investigating a possible anti-doping rule violation by Mamadou Sakho” and the player would respond to European soccer’s ruling body.
“The player is currently not subject to any playing suspension,” Liverpool added.
“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.”
Jurgen Klopp left him out of Liverpool’s Premier League match against Newcastle on Saturday afternoon, and the player was spotted watching the match from an executive box.
Liverpool are seventh in the Premier League, with four games remaining, but could qualify for the lucrative Champions League next season if they win the Europa League.
The former European champions have reached the semi- finals of that second tier European competition after beating Borussia Dortmund 5-4 on aggregate in a stirring quarter-finals fight back last week.
They are due to play Villarreal of Spain in the semi-final first leg on April 28 with the return at Anfield on May 5.
Sakho, 26, grabbed the equaliser at 3-3 against Dortmund in the quarter-final second leg, which Liverpool won 4-3 in stoppage time, and scored against Everton in a 4-0 rout in the league on Wednesday.
The Liverpool Echo reported that Sakho had tested positive after the Europa League round of 16 game against Manchester United on March 17.
Sakho’s Liverpool teammate, Kolo Toure, was banned for six months in 2011 while at Manchester City for a similar failed drugs test.
A similar ban for Sakho would rule him out of Euro 2016 being held in France.
