The Hull City midfielder Jake Livermore has been suspended by the club and the Football Association after testing positive for cocaine and will not play again this season.
The 25-year-old, who made his only England appearance against Italy in 2012, failed a drug test following Hull’s 2-0 victory at Crystal Palace last month.
Livermore has appeared in all three Hull matches since that game, playing 90 minutes in the win against Liverpool and being substituted in defeats by Arsenal and Burnley.
The FA and UK Anti-Doping refused to comment on the case when contacted by the Guardian.
Hull City released a statement on their website saying: “Following suspension by the FA the club has subsequently suspended Jake Livermore pending further investigations to be made by the FA and our own internal disciplinary procedures. The club is unable to make any further comment during this process.”
The FA later commented: “In line with its anti-doping regulations the FA can confirm it has issued a provisional suspension to a participant following a positive test for a prohibited substance. The FA will make no further comment until it has completed its investigations into this matter.”
Livermore was Hull’s record signing when he left Tottenham in 2013 for £8m. He has made 39 appearances this season. Born in Enfield, Livermore spent six seasons at Spurs but made only 58 first-team appearances and spent time on loan at MK Dons, Crewe, Derby, Peterborough, Ipswich Town and Leeds United.
The Professional Footballers’ Association said: “The PFA notes the charge levied against Jake Livermore of Hull City regarding an alleged anti-doping violation. We are providing our full support at this difficult time.”
The FA conducts drug testing both in competition and out of competition, which can mean at training sessions and players’ homes. Players can be selected for a drug test in a random or a targeted basis.The former Chelsea player Adrian Mutu is the highest-profile player to be banned by the FA for cocaine use. Last season 1,604 tests were carried out, with only four resulting in violations.
