Jake Livermore will return to training with Hull City on Thursday after being told he will NOT face a ban despite testing positive for cocaine.

Failing an in-competition drugs test for a Class A drug carries a maximum punishment of a two-year suspension.

However, the 25-year-old England international turned to the drug as he tried to cope with the death of his new-born son and, in an unprecedented step, an independent Football Association commission has determined that was an overwhelming mitigating factor in their decision not to ban the player.

Hull City midfielder Jake Livermore has avoided a ban from football after testing positive for cocaine

Livermore tested positive for cocaine in May and was suspended by Hull City and the FA as a result

Sportsmail revealed in May that Livermore failed the drugs test after the tragic death of his child

Livermore suffered bouts of depression after he and his partner lost their son last year. A subsequent inquest failed to resolve questions about the death and a legal case is ongoing. He turned to cocaine and tested positive following a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in April, days after the inquest verdict.

The sensitive nature of the case and Livermore’s fragile state of mind have been at the forefront of the commission’s verdict. The independent commission is understood to have decided that an immediate return to football would offer Livermore and his family the best hope of rebuilding their lives.

The commission’s 19-page report featuring the reasons for their decision should be published in the next 48 hours. While it is unlikely the FA could yet choose to appeal against the decision and request that Livermore still be banned, the World Anti-Doping Agency might also question such leniency despite the tragic circumstances of the case.

FA RULES ON 'EXCEPTIONAL OR SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES' IN DRUG CASES Decisions taken under these Regulations regarding exceptional or specific circumstances must be consistent. Therefore the following principles shall apply – (a) Exceptional or specific circumstances will exist only where the circumstances are truly exceptional and not in the vast majority of cases; (b) The evidence must be decisive and specific to explain the departure from expected standards of behaviour; (c) A Player’s or Participant’s minority is not in itself a justification of a reduction of the minimum penalty, but youth and inexperience are factors to be taken into account in determining fault. Advertisement

It is more likely they will impose a suspended sentence whereby the former Tottenham player would face severe punishment should he transgress again. Livermore had a hearing at the start of August and attended a second personal hearing last Wednesday where it is understood he underlined his reasoning and remorse.

It is believed a night out that ended with him taking cocaine came days after an inquest into his child’s death

Livermore joined Hull for £8million and was looking to regain a place in Roy Hodgson's England squad

JAKE LIVERMORE CAREER Club Years Games (goals) MK Dons 2008 5 (0) Tottenham 2008-14 58 (1) Derby (loan) 2009-10 16 (1) Peterbrough (loan) 2010 9 (1) Ipswich (loan) 2010-11 12 (0) Leeds (loan) 2011 5 (0) Hull (loan) 2013-14 41 (3) Hull 2014- 39(1) England 2012- 1(0) Advertisement

Hull had suspended Livermore in May pending the verdict of the FA’s commission. He had returned to London to stay with family while the situation was resolved and has been seeking advice and help with rehabilitation from Hull and the PFA.

Former Harlequins rugby union player Harry Allen tested positive for cocaine in 2014. In mitigation his defence pleaded that he too had been under psychological distress yet he still received a 12-month ban.

The FA’s decision underlines how delicate they view Livermore’s situation to be.

Hull boss Steve Bruce offered an insight into Livermore’s torment last month, saying: ‘Unfortunately he lost his baby just after the FA Cup final last year. Jake has kept all of the problems that he had to himself. All footballers think they are macho-men but they have problems like everybody else.

‘He has got to serve his punishment because he has done wrong and there is no disputing that, but there are obviously some circumstances that make you see he has been in a dark place for a long, long time. People think because he is a professional footballer he has the world, but he has problems just like everybody else does.’

Livermore won his solitary England cap against Italy in 2012, when he came off the bench for Frank Lampard

Hull boss Steve Bruce (left) speaks with Livermore (centre) who he criticised at the time

After learning of the verdict , Hull asked Livermore to return to the fold and he travelled on Wednesday night before a return to training. Though he had been keeping himself fit, it will likely take some weeks before he is fully ready for first-team action.

Livermore has one England cap and aims one day to return to the international fold. From this point, that would be the ultimate mark of redemption.

A player of undoubted talent, Livermore knows he has been given a chance to salvage his life on and off the pitch.