UEFA dismisses doping case against Liverpool's Sakho

Mamadou Sakho is free to play football again after UEFA dismissed its doping case against the Liverpool defender.

UEFA's control, ethics and disciplinary body announced Friday that proceedings against Sakho have been dismissed after the 26-year-old allegedly failed a doping test following Liverpool's Europa League draw with Manchester United in March.

A statement on the organization's website read: "Following a hearing with the lawyers of the player and experts of the WADA-accredited laboratories on this case, the CEDB has decided to dismiss the case."

The ruling paves the way for Sakho to rejoin his Liverpool teammates during pre-season activities ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.

"I am happy that this is finally over," Sakho told the team's website. "It’s been a difficult time for me but I knew I had done nothing wrong. I am looking forward to getting back in the team and playing again."

Sakho was initially suspended in April after he was accused of failing a drug test that allegedly showed that the French international had ingested a banned fat-loss substance.

The original suspension, as decided by UEFA, called for a 30-day ban until FIFA intervened in May and extended the ban to cover all competitions for the remainder of the season.

It was a decision that forced him to miss the rest of the Premier League season, including the Europa League final in May which Liverpool lost to Sevilla. It also ruled him out of competing on home soil at Euro 2016 as Sakho had a legitimate shot at being named to the French national team.