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Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho is heading to Paris to discover his fate for failing a drugs test.

The Reds centre-back, who could be hit with a lengthy suspension, is set to appear in front of the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body at a special hearing in the French capital on Thursday.

A date has finally been set by UEFA - some 11 weeks after it emerged that the governing body were investigating a possible anti-doping rule violation.

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

UEFA formally opened disciplinary proceedings against him and imposed a provisional 30-day ban after Sakho declined the opportunity to have his B sample tested.

However, that initial suspension expired in late May and since then Sakho has remained in limbo as UEFA continued to gather evidence.

The player’s legal team have questioned whether the substance in the supplement he took should even be on the prohibited list given some apparent scientific evidence on its effects. As a result UEFA ordered their own disciplinary body to investigate whether the substance should be banned.

Sakho’s representatives have grown increasingly frustrated at how long the saga has dragged on and have been urging UEFA to set a date for the hearing. Now they have finally got their wish with the issue being dealt with early in pre-season.

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 Championships in his homeland.

If UEFA aren’t swayed by the mitigating circumstances cited by Sakho and decide he violated doping regulations then they will impose a further ban which is likely to be anything from six months to two years.

Liverpool FC wouldn’t comment but the ECHO understands that the club will be sending a representative to Paris. However, Sakho’s defence will be presented by the defender’s legal team rather than Liverpool’s.

Sakho, who last played in the 4-0 win over Everton in April, has been back at Melwood for the start of pre-season but hasn’t worked outside with Jurgen Klopp’s squad.

The outcome of the hearing will have major repercussions for Liverpool. They could lose one of their frontline centre-backs for most if not all of the 2016/17 campaign.

That would force Klopp to dip into the transfer market to sign another centre-back to compete with Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez for a starting spot.