Mamadou Sakho releases statement after doping charge is dropped

Mamadou Sakho is free to continue his career after his doping charge was dismissed by Uefa.

The centre-half was initially banned by Uefa after it was reported he had failed a standard drugs test following Liverpool's Europa League success over Manchester United in March. The defender was expected to be ruled out for anything between six months and two years after it was believed traces of a fat burner were found in his drug sample. The France international missed the Europa League final and Euro 2016 because of the charges hanging over his head but argued that he did not break any rules and should not face a further suspension. Liverpool released a statement confirming that his charge had been dropped on Friday.

"Liverpool Football Club welcomes today’s decision from UEFA to dismiss the case against Mamadou Sakho, confirming that he did not commit any doping violation." We are pleased for Mamadou that he can now resume his playing career."

Liverpool fans attending the opening pre-season friendly at Tranmere Rovers on Friday night celebrated the news by chanting Sakho's name in the stands. The defender releases a statement on Instagram expressing his joy that the charges were dropped and thanking fans for their support over the past few months. https://www.instagram.com/p/BHodoRTjxaT/?taken-by=mamadousakho3&hl=en Sakho also wished his French team-mates well on Sunday's Euro 2016 final, a game he could have been playing in were it not for the charges brought against him.