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Liverpool 's Mamadou Sakho asked to be suspended by UEFA after his failed drugs test, it has been claimed.

The Reds defender tested positive for what is understood to be a fat burning substance following his side's Europa League game at Manchester United on March 17.

The French international was immediately, after discussions with the club, made unavailable for selection by Liverpool. He was then handed a provisional 30-day ban by UEFA on April 28, missing the Reds' last eight games of the season.

But in a shock development last month, it emerged that UEFA had opted not to extend that suspension, and that the governing body had ordered an investigation into whether the substance for which Sakho tested positive should even be on the banned list of the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA).

How Klopp reacted to Sakho drugs ban

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Liverpool have so far refused to comment officially on the case, but Marc Vouillamoz, UEFA's chief medical and doping officer, is quoted by L'Equipe as saying on Tuesday: "Some substances cause an automatic suspension, others not. And in this case, the player wished to be suspended temporarily, of his own will, and UEFA acceded to his request.”

Sakho's suspension officially ended on May 28, and he is at this stage free to resume his playing career, though he was not considered for selection by France for their Euro 2016 squad.

A further update is expected from UEFA soon, with Vouillamoz saying: “To my knowledge, the disciplinary committee will decide fairly quickly on the case.

“Information was taken from experts, documents were passed to the defence of the player. Now the player has the opportunity to speak, and once the player has given its opinion, the Commission will look very quickly on the case.”

Sakho at Melwood with Suarez