Hull City confirm Jake Livermore suspension after allegedly testing positive for cocaine

Hull City have confirmed Jake Livermore has been suspended amid allegations he tested positive for cocaine.

A statement read: "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 Daily Telegraph reports that Livermore, 25, tested positive for the substance after failing a random drug test following his side's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in April.

The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder will now miss the rest of the season with Hull's Premier League status hanging in the balance.

The Tigers currently sit in 18<sup>th place, two points adrift of safety with two games of the season remaining.

Livermore joined Hull on a permanent transfer in the summer of 2014 and became the club's record transfer having spent six years on the books at White Hart Lane. He signed a three-year contract at the KC Stadium with the option of a further year.

The midfielder has made 35 Premier League appearances this season but has failed to replicate last season's form during his initial loan spell from Spurs.

Enfield-born 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.

Adrian Mutu is the highest-profile Premier League player to have been sanctioned for cocaine use. The Romania striker was banned for seven months and fined £20,000 after failing a drugs test in October 2004 while playing for Chelsea.

Mutu was also ordered to pay the Blues £14.6m in 2010 following a series of appeals that culminated at the Swiss Federal Court, which upheld the decision made by Fifa and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.