Hull City midfielder Jake Livermore avoids ban after testing positive for cocaine

Jake Livermore may still face a suspended sentence

JAKE LIVERMORE has escaped a potential two-year ban for testing positive for cocaine after it was revealed the FA took into account the death of his newborn baby last year.

 

The Hull and England midfielder, who turned to the class A drug in a state of depression after the tragic loss 16 months ago, is set to return to training after being suspended in May.

Livermore, 25, whose personal hearing with an FA disciplinary panel took place last Wednesday, may still face a suspended sentence but will be free to resume his career following the failed test in after Hull's win at Crystal Palace in April.

Cocaine is considered a recreational, rather than performance-enhancing drug but is still on football's banned list and FA rules indicate a ban of between six months and two years is possible.

"He let himself down, but there's no question it was a mitigating factor," Hull manager Steve Bruce said. "He lost the baby just after the FA Cup final last year.

 

"Jake has kept all of the problems that he had to himself. All footballers think they are macho-men but they have problems like everybody else."

Livermore will be given time to build up his fitness before being re-integrated into Bruce's squad, who are attempting to seal an immediate return to the Premier League after relegation to the Championship last season.

He moved to the KC Stadium from Tottenham for £8m in August 2014 after a successful season-long loan, when he was part of the Hull side beaten 3-2 by Arsenal in the FA Cup final at Wembley.

Livermore, who won his single cap as a substitute in a 2-1 victory against Italy in 2012, made 35 league appearances last season, only losing his place as a mainstay of the team once suspended.