Mamadou Sakho backed by Liverpool team-mate Kolo Toure after alleged anti-doping violation

Mamdou Sakho is under investigation by UEFA for a possible anti-doping violation

Kolo Toure has backed Liverpool team-mate Mamadou Sakho after his alleged anti-doping violation.

Sakho is being investigated by UEFA for allegedly failing a drugs test prior to the Reds' Europa League second-leg tie at Manchester United on March 17.

He has not been banned by Liverpool but will not be selected during the probe, which is understood to be into the use of a 'fat-burning substance'.

Toure was banned for six months himself in 2011 after failing a drugs test while at former club Manchester City, testing positive for weight-loss drug for endroflumethiazide.

And the player, who replaced Sakho in the team for the draw against Newcastle on Saturday, said: "I don't want to remember that because it has been tough for me. I don't even want to talk about that because it is very hard.

"I haven't spoken with Mama to be honest. I've been in there and it has been really difficult, definitely. This is private but he knows what I think about him."

Defender Kolo Toure (right) sees his Liverpool contract expire this summer

Toure, 35, put in a decent performance against Newcastle and was praised by manager Jurgen Klopp despite the centre-back's contract expiring at the end of the season.

Toure said: "The future is bright for me and it was good news from the manager so I'm looking forward to it.

"It means I can maybe help the team. For me the most important thing is to help the team, if I can help the team improve, or bring something to the team, I'm quite happy to be here.

"Bringing something off the pitch is natural for me, I'm doing that because I want to help my team-mates, I want to fight on the pitch. I want to talk to players. That is what I bring. I will keep doing that, it doesn't matter what happens, anywhere I go."