Jake Livermore tests positive for cocaine with Hull midfielder facing two-year ban

Hull City midfielder Jake Livermore could face a two-year ban after testing positive for cocaine.

The future of the one-time England international is in serious doubt after he was suspended by the relegation-threatened Tigers.

Livermore failed a random drugs test following Hull’s 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on April 25, and FA guidelines state an ‘in competition’ violation carries a two-year suspension.

The 25-year-old only signed for Hull last summer in a then club record £8million move from Spurs, but they could look to terminate his contract — which has two years to run — if it is proved he took cocaine in the days prior to a match.

According to experts, the drug is undetectable in a doping test three to five days after use. Hull had not played in the two weeks prior to the match against Crystal Palace.

The FA will now carry out further investigations before the possibility of a charge. Neither they nor Hull had planned on releasing the information about the failed test — it is not protocol to do so — but it was leaked.