Jake Livermore tests positive for cocaine

[Spurrific]

Oh.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sp...osing-child-FA-easy-Hull-City-midfielder.html

Jake Livermore failed drugs test for cocaine after the tragedy of losing a child, and FA may go easy on Hull City midfielder

• Jake Livermore tested positive for cocaine in May and was suspended
• The Hull City midfielder was interviewed by the FA two weeks ago
• Livermore has not appeared before a disciplinary commission yet
• The delays are due to the complex nature of the case with Livermore
• The 25-year-old was struggling with the loss of his child at the time

Jake Livermore failed a drugs test for cocaine after struggling to cope with the terrible tragedy of losing a child.

While the exact circumstances cannot be revealed for legal reasons, Sportsmail understands 25-year-old Livermore and his partner lost their new-born baby in May last year.

The awful circumstances leave the FA facing a difficult moral dilemma given the seriousness of the case involving the England international footballer.

Jake Livermore failed a drugs test for cocaine after struggling to cope with the terrible tragedy of losing a child.

While the exact circumstances cannot be revealed for legal reasons, Sportsmail understands 25-year-old Livermore and his partner lost their new-born baby in May last year.

The awful circumstances leave the FA facing a difficult moral dilemma given the seriousness of the case involving the England international footballer.

Indeed, it is believed a night out that ended with him indulging in cocaine came days after he learned the outcome of an inquest into his child’s death. The game against Palace was a few days later.

Livermore was charged by the FA in May and suspended by both Hull and the FA pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing.

He was interviewed by the FA two weeks ago but as yet has not appeared before a disciplinary commission because of the delays caused by the complex, sensitive nature of the case.

Livermore’s personal circumstances could well be used in mitigation before a decision is reached on his future as a professional footballer. It could even be that some concern is expressed for Livermore’s wellbeing should he be given a lengthy suspension.

When news first broke of Livermore’s failed test, Hull manager Steve Bruce appeared less than sympathetic as he battled, and ultimately failed, to haul his side clear of relegation danger.

‘He’s let himself down,’ said Bruce of Livermore. ‘Being tarnished with that is awful and he’ll have to live with the consequences of that. As a reaction I’m shocked, saddened, disappointed, angry. Why wouldn’t I be? I can’t come to terms with it, if I’m being honest. Society today is unfortunately like that.’

But there is a precedent that could allow a degree of leniency if it is established by an FA commission that Livermore was suffering some form of psychological distress at the time of his indiscretion. Before the governing body suspended rugby player Harry Allen for taking cocaine, personal issues he was enduring at the time were taken into account.

That said, he was still suspended for 12 months.

There are concerns that even 12 months would be too much for Livermore and the FA may need to look at other cases before ruling on the punishment for the former Spurs midfielder.

Former Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke took his own life in 2009, and while his wife said he had been suffering with depression for six years the death of his daughter, Lara, in 2006 was said to have had a devastating effect on him.

Fucking hell, that last bit in bold. "The death of his daughter had a devastating effect on him". No shit.

 

[diamond lights]

I wouldn't go and risk my life by stuffing Class A drugs up my nose after such news... Let's not excuse his reckless behaviour.

It's not the right thing to do and it's reckless but as human beings let's cut others some slack . Do any of us always do the right thing and the pain of losing a child can only be imagined by most of us. Not an excuse but a factor in assessing the length of any ban surely.

 

[dontcallme]

I'm not quite sure I get the thinking here.

I don't see how a non-drug user turns to drugs in a time of difficulty.

As a drinker I can sometimes drink too much or for the wrong reason. If I went through a tragedy I don't think I'd suddenly, "hey maybe some cocaine will sort me out." But I could see myself drinking more.

So if Livermore is a non-drug user who suddenly turned to drugs I could only see it coming from friends convincing him to take them.

Not sure I quite buy into this but maybe he's part of a culture I don't quite understand.

 

[E17yid]

I'm not quite sure I get the thinking here.

I don't see how a non-drug user turns to drugs in a time of difficulty.

As a drinker I can sometimes drink too much or for the wrong reason. If I went through a tragedy I don't think I'd suddenly, "hey maybe some cocaine will sort me out." But I could see myself drinking more.

So if Livermore is a non-drug user who suddenly turned to drugs I could only see it coming from friends convincing him to take them.

Not sure I quite buy into this but maybe he's part of a culture I don't quite understand.

Wasn't there roumers about him having some propa norty mates? I might just be making that up though, not sure.

Drink and coke is like strawberries and cream. If you know people that dabble, or more, then it's hardly surprising to me. I'd imagine he got pissed with some close mates (who do this kinda thing on the reg) and they offered some up.

When going through a tragedy like this it's understandable but when you add in the fact he was most likely pretty pissed then it's even more understandable.

There's also the possibility that Jake does it in the off season anyway so he might be a part time user, who knows?

 

[michaelden]

There's also the possibility that Jake does it in the off season anyway so he might be a part time user, who knows?

1 big popular misconception about drugs is that if you do it once you're an addict and need it all the time. It's a myth. You can do it 100 times in a year and not be an addict.

He probably has done it before, and most likely will do it again, but hopefully he'll not be an ass about it and let it ruin his career

 

[mightyspur]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34199998

Avoids a ban.

 

[KILLA_SIN]

Genera public Ciminal Offence, probably loss of job, A Crimimal Record, No company willing to give you Home Insurance etc.

Football player. None of the above.

 

[Geyzer Soze]

Genera public Ciminal Offence, probably loss of job, A Crimimal Record, No company willing to give you Home Insurance etc.

Football player. None of the above.

Never heard of any of that happening to anyone who takes a drug tbh. Not in England anyway.

 

[KILLA_SIN]

Never heard of any of that happening to anyone who takes a drug tbh. Not in England anyway.

If you were driving you would. Maybe im being over dramatic

 

[Geyzer Soze]

If you were driving you would

Ah. didn't know he was caught driving under the influence.

 

[WalkerboyUK]

I'm confused as to how the FA came to the decision, or if they used the death of his baby daughter as a mitigating circumstance.
He took coke and failed the test a full year after that happened.

 

[KILLA_SIN]

Ah. didn't know he was caught driving under the influence.

No I dont think he was.

Just saying you would be charcged if you were under the influence while driving.

 

[KILLA_SIN]

I'm confused as to how the FA came to the decision, or if they used the death of his baby daughter as a mitigating circumstance.
He took coke and failed the test a full year after that happened.

The British Athletcis Fed absolutly hammers you if you take Steroids under competiion, so compared to that the FA are very lenient.

 

[Geyzer Soze]

No I dont think he was.

Just saying you would be charcged if you were under the influence while driving.

Oh. well. it's irrelevant then and back to my previous point, no-one who tests positive for the use of a Class A would get the punishment you suggested they would. 'Normal' or Footballer.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Never heard of any of that happening to anyone who takes a drug tbh. Not in England anyway.

Yeah if everyone was sacked for taking cocaine then the City of London would be empty.

 

[talkshowhost86]

As I said earlier in the thread, I think it's very dangerous for the FA to be dealing in 'mitigating circumstances'. I think there should be a blanket ban from the league, and it's then up to the club as to what happens with regards to your job (where they could then take the circumstances into account).

 

[Geyzer Soze]

As I said earlier in the thread, I think it's very dangerous for the FA to be dealing in 'mitigating circumstances'. I think there should be a blanket ban from the league, and it's then up to the club as to what happens with regards to your job (where they could then take the circumstances into account).

that's true, but its not like its a performance enhancing drug, quite the contrary

If it was performance enhancing, then no room for any mitigation. Recreational, which never gave him a competitive advantage, arguably there is room (IMO of course)

 

[E8spur]

I'm confused as to how the FA came to the decision, or if they used the death of his baby daughter as a mitigating circumstance.
He took coke and failed the test a full year after that happened.

The coke episode happened shortly after Jake had inquest results on the death of his newborn baby. We don't know what those inquest results are - but we do know that they cannot be reported for legal reasons. That suggests something potentially even more traumatic than, say, a cot death - although losing a child that way would be horrendous enough. My understanding is that an inquest would usually only take place in case of a violent or unnatural death, and ongoing legal action suggests there might be something grim here - I suppose it could be medical negligence, but there are also worse possibilities... I think it also means the body is not released for burial until after an inquest.

This means that although Jake will have suffered an initial devastating loss when the baby died, he may later have had to face something else horrific as a result of the inquest report, and in any case the inquest would have delayed his opportunity to properly say goodbye and mourn the baby's death.

I think I'd understand anyone going off the rails in these circumstances, professional athlete or not, and I would assume the FA will have heard confidential details that have made them understanding too. I'm not usually a fan of the FA, but on the limited info we have, it sounds like they made a good and compassionate decision - and one that also safeguard's Jake's future welfare. Losing his job on top of everything else could actually be quite dangerous to someone who has already suffered real trauma.

 

[michaelden]

Never heard of any of that happening to anyone who takes a drug tbh. Not in England anyway.

it's not unheard of to lose licence if high & have enough on you to be considered a dealer. Job loss usually follows sentencing. Don't know about home insurance

*Edit: saying that I know of 1 guy who loosely dealt & was caught by his boss and made to provide enough for the xmas party at cost so I guess it depends on the boss & company culture...

 

[talkshowhost86]

that's true, but its not like its a performance enhancing drug, quite the contrary

If it was performance enhancing, then no room for any mitigation. Recreational, which never gave him a competitive advantage, arguably there is room

I still think it's dodgy ground and asking the FA to make the sorts of subjective decisions that they invariably balls up.

Recreational or not, the FA should be discouraging drug use by footballers as, like it or not, they are role models and lauded by millions of kids. If they allow someone to keep playing after taking a recreational drug, even if on compassionate grounds, it makes it look as if it's acceptable, or an acceptable way to deal with issues such as Livermore had.

It's a tough stance, but I think due to the nature of the role of footballers these days it's one that needs to be taken, with the caveat that clubs should then show compassion in terms of the player's contract.