Mamadou Sakho is expected to discover within the next three weeks whether he must serve a suspension for contravening Uefa's drugs rules.

The Liverpool defender's career has been on hold since it was announced he failed a drugs test following the Europa League tie at Manchester United on March 17th. The 26-year-old was initially taken out of the Liverpool side by the manager, Jurgen Klopp, and then provisionally suspended by Uefa for 30 days.

Sakho missed the final eight games of Liverpool’s season, including the Europa League final defeat by Sevilla, plus selection for France’s squad at the European Championships as a consequence.

After opting not to have his B sample examined, Sakho’s lawyers have argued the fat-burning substance that resulted in the failed drugs test should not be on Uefa’s prohibited list. European football’s governing body have been conducting their own investigation into whether that should be the case and have set a provisional date of early July for the disciplinary hearing.

Liverpool are due to start pre-season training on July 2nd.

Guardian services