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WADA apologizes to Sakho, will pay 'substantial' damages for drug ban

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Crystal Palace defender Mamadou Sakho will receive "substantial" damage compensation from the World Anti-Doping Agency after the organization made false claims about a drug test he took in 2016 while playing for Liverpool.

WADA's lawyers also read out an apology to the 30-year-old in open court in London on Wednesday.

"WADA accepts that it should not have made the defamatory allegations it did," the statement read, according to Paul MacInnes of The Guardian. "WADA accepts that Mr. Sakho did not breach the UEFA anti-doping regulations, did not cheat, had no intention of gaining any advantage, and acted in good faith.

"WADA regrets the damage the defamatory accusations caused. To indicate the sincerity of this apology, WADA has agreed with its insurers to pay Mr. Sakho a substantial sum of damages."

The Frenchman had sued WADA for £13 million in damages, according to The Athletic. Financial details of the settlement remain private.

The apology and settlement end Sakho's four-year quest to clear his name after he tested positive for the fat-burner Higenamine after a 2016 Europa League match between Liverpool and Manchester United.

The center-back received a provisional 30-day ban at the time. He never played for Liverpool again and wasn't selected for France's Euro 2016 squad, a development he blames on the doping suspension.

UEFA eventually overturned his ban after an appeal, but WADA publically repeated claims in 2016 and 2017 that Sakho took an illegal substance, despite the fact it was unclear if Higenamine was considered a banned substance.

"I feel happy. Happy for my family, for all my friends, for the people who were around me during those tough years," Sakho said outside the courtroom Wednesday. "It's not easy when you are a professional athlete and are accused of doping. It is the worst thing that can happen to you.

"I always believed in my lawyers, that's my squad, my team. We always said the truth would take time to come out and I am happy WADA has said sorry. Now everything is behind me and I just want to look forward."

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