Liverpool centre-back Mamadou Sakho may have put his health at risk if he used a fat-burning substance, according to Sporting Integritys founding director Michelle Verroken. Verroken, whose Sporting Integrity group is dedicated to assisting sports organisations and athletes with effective anti-doping policies, says such supplements can put a large strain on the heart.Sakho is being investigated by UEFA after an alleged anti-doping violation following a Europa League tie against Manchester United. The probe is believed to relate to the use of a fat-burning substance. The 26-year-old is expected to request his B sample be tested ahead of Tuesdays deadline.When asked by Sky Sports News HQ if there were any health risks involved in taking fat-burning supplements, Verroken said: Huge risks.If you are increasing the heart rate the important thing to know is what you are also going to be doing - if you are exercising at the same time - because you are overloading the heart and that really would not be a good thing if your heart has some congenital problem or you are demanding more of your body without proper hydration, proper food. Mamadou Sakho (right) in action against Manchester United Some of these fat burners even contain a diuretic to take water out of the body and literally make your body appear smaller. And again, if you are trying to dry out the body when you are involved in intense exercise, there are really big risks in terms of cardiovascular problems.Verroken is not convinced fat-burners improve performance though, and she believes there are alternative means available which are less dangerous.She said: Its a difficult question really, because if your intention is to improve your performance, I think there are far better ways of trying to do this. Sakho is being probed over an alleged anti-doping violation But certainly some people might encourage the use of these type of supplements as a way of giving you perhaps a little bit more energy, offsetting fatigue so that perhaps you could hang on in there that little bit longer.We do know that some people use them as a way of training for longer, and if they are consuming those really they have got to look at the point of which they get to exhaustion and the body is very, very under-pressure and certainly the heart has been beating faster to try to speed up the metabolism. Really thats not the safest way to enhance your performance but any high is going to be followed by a low.Fat burners appear in sports supplements and certainly what they are intended to do is really speed up the bodys metabolism. They make the heart beat faster and certainly that is their action in the body, to stimulate the body and really increase your energy levels, make you feel you have a little bit more energy and burn off the fat in the body cells. Sakho is expected to request a test of a B sample And Verroken insists the Premier League should not be criticised because UEFA discovered the alleged violation, as she believes that is down to the timing of an individuals test.Verroken said: We have a range of programmes going on across sport, some by international bodies, some by national bodies, so really its all a matter of timing that testing according to the kind of performance schedule, the training schedules of athletes across different sports.I dont think its fair to perhaps compare one testing program with another. In some respects its a bit of a lucky dip almost, because if you are using a supplement, it may not be a contaminated version of that supplement, it may not contain a prohibited substance.But the next batch that you use may very well contain that prohibited substance, so if thats the timing of when the testing programme goes on then certainly in some respects its more bad luck than anything else. But thats what happens in anti-doping, we have to create the deterrent in order to deliver the detection. Also See: Liverpool video Liverpool fixtures Liverpool stats Get a £10 free bet! Wholesale Air Max Shoes . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Cheap Air Max Outlet . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. 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NEW YORK -- As the last-place team in the National League East, the Atlanta Braves can afford to let someone learn on the job, as right-handed pitcher Ryan Weber will begin to do Wednesday night.Their opponents, the New York Mets, are in the thick of the NL wild-card race, and veteran right fielder Jay Bruce may not have any time left to snap out of a nearly two-month slump.Bruces place in -- or out -- of the lineup is sure to be a central topic Wednesday night, when the Mets try to avoid being swept by the Braves in the finale of a three-game series at Citi Field.Atlanta right-hander Julio Teheran threw seven strong innings Tuesday, when the Braves withstood a late Mets comeback to eke out a 5-4 win. The result, coupled with wins by the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals, dropped New York into a three-way tie with the Giants and Cardinals for the two NL wild-card spots.The Giants, Cardinals and Mets are all 81-70.The Mets looked as if they might be mounting a dramatic comeback during a three-run eighth inning Tuesday, when Eric Campbell -- a .172 hitter who had not batted in the majors since May 30 -- produced the second run of the frame with a pinch-hit RBI single. He batted in place of Bruce, who led the NL in RBI prior to an Aug. 1 trade to the Mets.Bruce, who didnt start either Sunday or Monday, went 0-for-3 Tuesday and is batting just .176 in 39 games with the Mets. He is 3-for-37 (.081) dating back to Sept. 5.Manager Terry Collins said it was a difficult decision to pinch-hit for the left-handed-hitting Bruce against southpaw Ian Krol but that he did so in the best interests of the team.Its one of the worst things you can do as a manager -- pinch-hit for a star, especially one of the elite power hitters in the game, Collins said. But you know, my job is to try to win the game.Bruce -- a three-time All-Star with 237 career homers -- said it was the first time he could remember being lifted for a pinch hitter but that he understood Collins decision.He diidnt need to explain that to me, said Bruce, who actually was replaced by a pinch hitter eight times previously.dddddddddddd I obviously get how the game is played, and you know what his thought process was there. I dont deserve any explanations from the manager. Hes the manager, he makes the decisions.Perhaps Bruce will get a chance to redeem himself against Weber, who will be making his second start of the season and his first since Sept. 5. Overall this year, he is 1-1 with a 5.46 ERA in 15 outings.Weber earned the opportunity to return to the rotation by throwing 4 2/3 innings of one-run relief in place of right-hander John Gant last Friday against the Washington Nationals.He did such a good job the other day, Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said Monday. (He) was efficient and extended it so well, and hes somewhat stretched out. Just get the bird off the ground and get us in flight, see where we end up.Weber is 0-0 with a 7.56 ERA in two career games (one start) against the Mets.The Braves (60-91) look increasingly likely to end up with fewer than 100 losses, something that seemed inconceivable when manager Fredi Gonzalez was fired following a 9-28 start that had the club on pace to lose 120 games.Atlanta is 51-63 under Snitker and needs to win just three of its final 11 games to avoid the franchises first 100-loss season since 1988.They are big (games) for us -- thats why were going out there to win, not to show up, Snitker said. Were going out to try to win the ballgame.Ageless right-hander Bartolo Colon (14-7, 3.14 ERA) will look to serve as the stopper for the Mets. The 43-year-old veteran, who needs one more win to become only the fourth pitcher to ever win at least 15 games at age 43 or older, is 9-3 with a 2.48 ERA in 14 career starts against the Braves.In three starts against Atlanta this year, Colon is 1-1 with a 1.71 ERA. ' ' '