Chelsea legend Graeme Le Saux believes that Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho failing a drug test has put the integrity of football into question.

It was recently revealed that Sakho had failed a drug test conducted after Liverpool's Europa League victory over Manchester United last month and the Frenchman now faces a lengthy ban by FIFA if his 'B' sample is confirmed as positive.

The news has certainly shocked the footballing fraternity and now former Chelsea star Le Saux has stated his belief that the incident involving Sakho could raise serious question marks regarding the integrity of the sport if the 26-year-old is found guilty.

The 47-year-old said: "What worries me is that it will open the floodgates to people questioning the integrity of the game and the players.

"When I first heard about Sakho's failed test I felt sick to the pit of my stomach. I had that 'oh no' feeling inside.

"It makes people think there is a doping problem within football, but the threat of a test should be enough of a deterrent. I've never understood the temptation for players to take drugs, whether performance-enhancing or recreational.

"As a player, in any of the dressing rooms I was in, we'd have felt cheated if one of our own players was taking drugs — it would not have been tolerated."