Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho asked to be suspended by UEFA following an anti-doping violation, an official from the European governing body has said.
Sakho, 26, was banned by UEFA in April for 30 days pending the results of a full investigation, having already been stood down from first-team duty by Liverpool.
PA Sport reported that the alleged offence related to the Reds' Europa League tie at Manchester United in March, and RMC said it concerned a "fat-burning" substance.
It was reported last month that UEFA had opted not to extend the suspension and that the governing body is investigating whether the substance which Sakho tested positive for should even be on the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) banned list.
And UEFA chief medical and doping officer Marc Vouillamoz has now claimed that the ban was only handed down to the defender in the first place due his own personal request.
"Some substances cause an automatic suspension, others not," Vouillamoz is quoted as saying by L'Equipe. "And in this case, the player wished to be suspended temporarily, of his own will, and UEFA acceded to his request."
Vouillamoz added that a further update from UEFA on the Sakho case is expected soon.
"To my knowledge, the disciplinary committee will decide fairly quickly on the case," he said. "Information was taken from experts, documents were passed to the defence of the player. Now the player has the opportunity to speak, and once the player has given its opinion, the commission will look very quickly on the case."