LONDON • Mamadou Sakho is facing a lengthy suspension from the game after the Liverpool defender decided not to challenge the results of his failed drugs test.

The France international has accepted the findings of a drugs test taken after the Europa League tie at Manchester United on March 17, which is understood to have revealed evidence of a fat-burning substance, and did not request that a B sample was examined before the Uefa deadline on Tuesday.

Liverpool have refused to comment on the defender's decision, insisting it is a private matter at this stage, and Sakho will remain unavailable for selection while Uefa's investigation continues.

Juergen Klopp's squad travel to Spain for their Europa League semi-final first leg against Villarreal today and the £19 million (S$37.3 million) centre-half was not in the travelling party.

Sakho's acceptance of the A sample's findings may hasten the disciplinary process, meaning his suspension from the game will start earlier than had he challenged the results.

His team-mate, Kolo Toure, was handed a six-month ban by the Football Association for failing a drugs test in 2011 as a result of taking his wife's diet pills.

A similar punishment would cost Sakho his place at the European Championship to be held this summer in France.

THE GUARDIAN