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UEFA insist that Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho will learn “within days” whether he faces an extended ban for failing a drugs test.

The France international’s disciplinary hearing was held in Paris today when he appeared in front of the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body.

The governing body have vowed that a ruling will be made shortly after the wealth of complex evidence which was presented to the panel has been properly considered.

Sakho tested positive for using a ‘fat burner’ off the banned list following Liverpool’s Europa League clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford in March.

The Reds centre-back served a provisional 30-day ban after opting not to have his B sample tested but that expired in late May.

Sakho is adamant he didn’t break doping rules and went to the hearing in Paris determined to clear his name. The player’s legal team have questioned whether the substance in the supplement he took should even be on the list.

Both the player and his club are now anxiously awaiting the outcome.

UEFA could clear Sakho of any wrongdoing and give him the green light to resume his career. However, if found guilty of a doping violation he could be hit with anything up to a two-year ban,

They could also find him guilty but take mitigating circumstances into account and decide that the fact he hasn’t kicked a ball in anger since April is sufficient punishment.

Whatever the decision, Sakho will have the right to appeal to UEFA and beyond that he could even take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The former Paris Saint-Germain captain has already paid a heavy price, missing the last eight matches of last season, including May’s Europa League final defeat against Sevilla in Basel. The failed test also cost him his place in the France squad for the European Championship in his homeland.