Mamadou Sakho could be at the centre of a bitter legal battle with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), according to reports.

The Telegraph suggests that WADA has refused to rule out appealing UEFA's decision not to suspend the Liverpool defender for taking a banned substance earlier in the year.

Frenchman Sakho, 26, failed a drugs test in March following a Europa League game against Manchester United which saw him banned during UEFA's investigation of the matter.

In late May, Sakho's suspension ended as the substance was deemed not to be performance-enhancing and he has since had his name cleared after allegations for taking a banned substance were dismissed on Friday.

UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary board cleared him of any wrongdoing but WADA hold a right of appeal and failed to rule that scenario out when quizzed on the incident by The Telegraph.

A WADA spokesman said: "We are awaiting the reasoned decision as it relates to this one."

But with UEFA exonerating Sakho, a source close to the case indicated to The Telegraph that WADA have no leg to stand on.

"The way in which Wada managed this case is absolutely unacceptable," said the source.

France international Sakho was forced to miss the Europa League final against Sevilla as well as Euro2016 in his homeland due to WADA insisting on a case being pursued.