Ex-Red Sakho sues the world anti-doping agency for £13m over drug test blunder

Premier League footballer Mamadou Sakho is suing the world anti-doping agency for £13million claiming a drug-test blunder torpedoed his career at Liverpool.

Sakho, 29, was suspended from football in April 2016 after testing positive for a fat-burning substance following a Europa League tie with Man Utd.

The provisional 30-day suspension meant the France international missed out on Liverpool's Europa League Final defeat to Sevilla and, he claims, cost him a team place at the Euro 2016 tournament, London's High Court heard.

He was eventually cleared in disciplinary proceedings before Uefa, with the body finding that the substance - higenamine - was not actually on the banned list.

The French defender, currently with London team Crystal Palace, is now suing for £13m, with his lawyers arguing that his earnings as a player and the worth of his personal brand have been reduced by his move away from Liverpool.

But the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) denies it is responsible for his transfer from the European Champions which it says was in reality caused by 'disciplinary issues' and a 'personality clash' with Jurgen Klopp.

In a hearing at the High Court yesterday, Mr Sakho's lawyers told Master Victoria McCloud that his suspension in 2016 had dealt a massive hit to his earnings.

'Although this is a distinguished Premier League club, it does not have the worldwide reputation or brand recognition of Liverpool FC with the value which this brings to a player, and his associated image rights,' said the QC.

'Only recently has he been re-selected to play for the French national team,' he added.

The court heard Mr Sakho had tested positive for the substance - which was present in a dietary supplement he had taken - in a urine test in March 2016.