Liverpool player facing ban for failing a drugs test

Frenchman Sakho could miss the rest of Liverpool's season and Euro 2016 on home soil

UEFA are investigating the defender for breaking doping regulations but at least two players would have had to fail a test the same night for the Reds to be kicked out

Liverpool star Mamadou Sakho is facing a 12-month ban for failing a drugs test.

The Anfield club have confirmed that the French international is under UEFA investigation for breaking doping regulations.

Sunday Mirror Sport understands that Sakho failed the test following Liverpool’s Europa League victory over Manchester United last month.

Traces of a banned fat-burning substance are believed to have been detected in his sample.

Anfield chiefs – including boss Jurgen Klopp – decided to leave Sakho out of Saturday's 2-2 draw with Newcastle until the UEFA investigation is concluded after analysis of a “B” sample on Tuesday.

But Sakho, 26, faces a ban of up to two years if found guilty of any offence – although similar offences have been punished with between six and 12-month penalties.

And that could rule him out of France’s squad for the Euro 2016 as well as Klopp’s side.

FIFA sent out a warning to players back in September 2013, alerting them to the dangers of taking fat burners.

Sakho joined Liverpool the same month in an £18million deal from Paris Saint-Germain.

There is no suggestion that ­Liverpool – who face ­Villarreal in the first leg of the semi-final on Thursday night – could be kicked out of the Europa League.

At least two players would have had to fail drugs tests on the same night for UEFA to take such a sanction.