http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...-emerges-surrounding-positive-drugs-test.html When Jake Livermore, tormented by grief following the death of his baby son in horrific circumstances in a private hospital, went out drinking in London last year and snorted lines of cocaine, he knew he was playing Russian roulette with his career. This weekend, Livermore will line up against Arsenal in the fifth round of the FA Cup, following a remarkable return to favour with Hull City, despite a failed drug test just nine months ago and the threat of a two-year ban. The 26-year-old probably knew on the night when he took drugs that he was being stupid, that he was risking everything. He just did not care at the time. All he wanted was an escape from his mental pain. Grief can make anyone crave numbness, emotionally and physically. Drink and drugs are so often perceived as a cure, albeit a temporary one. He fell into the trap of self-medicating. please log in to view this image Bruce: 'I felt I had let him down' A few days later, following a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park last April, a victory that was a huge boost in Hull’s battle to avoid relegation, Livermore was selected for a random drug test. He feared he could be in trouble, but it was only when he was called into the office of his manager, Steve Bruce, the following week and saw the look on his face, that he knew what had happened. “It was the hardest thing I’ve had to do in my managerial career,” Bruce said. “I had to tell a young man, who should have had the best years of his career ahead of him, that he had failed a drug test, that he had tested positive for cocaine, that the club would have to suspend him and the FA would almost certainly ban him. “He knew what it meant. I don’t think he took in much of what I said. It was awful. I was angry at the time, I think. We were in a relegation battle and he was one of my best players. He couldn’t play for us again that season and I thought he’d thrown it all away. “I thought he’d ruined his career. I’ve seen and dealt with most things as a manager, but not that. You like to think, at my age, that you are prepared for everything life throws at you, but this was a shock to everybody. “I was angry, yeah, but when I found out what had happened to him, I felt as though I had failed Jake, not just as his manager, but as a human being. please log in to view this image There was a time when it didn't look like Livermore would play for Hull again “I knew something wasn’t right. He’d not been playing well, not like his first season with us. I kept asking my staff, ‘What’s gone wrong with Jake?’, but I never took him into my office and asked him what was going on in his life. I didn’t ask him about what was happening away from the training ground – and I should have done. “In football, we all like to think we are big, tough men. We don’t like to show emotion or weakness, and Jake just came into training every day and pretended everything was all right.” Livermore’s life had been thrown into chaos in May 2014, days after Hull had lost to Arsenal in the FA Cup final at Wembley. There were complications as his partner, Danielle Del-Giudice, gave birth at the Portland Hospital in London. Jake Junior died from a lack of oxygen and a brain haemorrhage. All his father ever heard of his son was a faint cry shortly after he was born. An inquest found that the hospital had made a series of blunders. Westminster Coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe ruled that the death was avoidable. Livermore’s family and close friends knew what had happened, but most people at the football club were oblivious. Rather than seek help, Livermore tried to deal with his grief alone. He did not miss a day of training. Having signed for Hull for £8 million from Tottenham Hotspur a year earlier, Livermore made the mistake of believing he could play through the pain. He did, but he lost form. His performances were nowhere near the same standard they had been in his first season, as Hull battled to avoid relegation. please log in to view this image Livermore is back in the team this season Away from football, he was depressed and sought relief in the wrong ways and places. And when he failed his drug test, the club’s owner, Assem Allam, was furious. Hull were relegated and there was talk that Livermore would not just be sacked, but could also be sued by the club. However, slowly but surely, the tragedy that had led Livermore to self-medicate with illegal drugs – which are also deemed to be performance-enhancing if they are in an athlete’s body during competition – emerged. Bruce was among those who gave evidence to support the player at his FA hearing last September, when Livermore was told he would not have to serve a two-year ban, because of the ordeal he and his partner had suffered. “When the dust settled and we discovered everything that had happened in Jake’s life, I just felt we couldn’t abandon him,” Bruce explained. “Everyone deserves a second chance in life. We all make mistakes and Jake made a big one, but it was horrific what happened. “He’s a good kid and I wanted to help him. I think the FA made the right decision not to ban him. I know there are people out there who will disagree, that he broke the rules and should have been punished, but we all make mistakes.” please log in to view this image Hull are top of the Championship Livermore returned to the Hull team in September. He and his partner have since had another child, his career is back on track and the Tigers are top of the Championship table. “When he came back, after the suspension, it was like having a £8 million new signing,” said Bernard Noble, a member of the Official Hull City Supporters Club. “He had always been a fans’ favourite, but I do think he deserved a second chance after what happened. “I think it was the right decision to let him come back. Everyone was shocked when he failed the drug test, but there were such strong mitigating circumstances involved. “I was in the Army for 39 years and there are things that happen in life that mean you deserve another chance, and Jake has been excellent this season. He always attends our events and seems very popular with his team-mates.” Not many expected Livermore, to return, but Hull City are very glad he did.
http://www.not606.com/threads/livermore-tests-positive-for-cocaine.300885/page-36 It almost makes this thread worth re-reading. Amazing what hindsight can do to one's opinions. I'll admit that when he was first banned, I was pissed off, but I'm glad we stuck by him when the facts came to light, given the bad things that happen to people in those situations, we did well to support him. Fair play to you Chazz, you called it from the start.
You said you'd stand by him through rehabilitation and that the club would to. Everybody else called him a **** and a waste of money and that he deserved everything he got.
I still don't see why Bruce continued to play him when he admitted that he saw he was well out of form.
I am surprised at the lack of communication Bruce talks about. I would think in the days of sports psychologists and more enlightened approaches to man management there would be closer personal relationships. Even allowing for all the inevitable macho bullshit. You would think that working in such a close and pressured environment stronger bonds would be forged than just professional ones. While allowing for a degree of separation between player and manager it must be an advantage to have a closer personal understanding.. Good on him for learning from his mistake though. It should make him a better manager and a better person even.
Everybody else, except me. I've been through all 36 pages & my contribution to the thread was commendable & one I'm quite proud of. Chazz was just been argumentative to get some attention. Bruce's self critical honesty in the above piece is good to see.
I'm taking the piss, I didn't comment on Jake but I did tell that Miggins **** that he was a **** & this beauty when it was suggested that Sunderland were going to take legal action to get us points deducted based on the "fact" that Jake was a cocaine fueled match winner. "Playing the moral anti-drugs card in a desperate attempt to stay in the Premier League after a child rapist & groomer failed to do it for them." This was you first input on the thread Kemps, I didn't look further because it wouldn't have been bettered. " please log in to view this image "
Suppose you didn't know at the time though, with relegation emotions running high I guess it was understandable.
