With the recent discovery that Hull City’s Jake Livermore has tested positive for cocaine, Arsenal legend, Ian Wright, has been speaking about his experience – or lack there of – with drugs as a young player.

According to Wright, drugs being offered to younger players in particular is ‘rife‘ and it’s up to the player to just say no.

“The fact is, it’s there, it’s rife for young players. People are constantly offering them. In London the amount of times you’re in these places and are offered stuff, you have to put them in their place. Maybe some players don’t, maybe some do take [drugs], that’s where it must have started for Jake,” he said to BT Sport.

As a younger player living in London at the peak of his career, the ex-Arsenal forward will have witnessed his fair share of drug taking. Although he claims to have never done it himself.

He said, “People used to say “I saw Ian Wright in the toilets” but I’m one of those, if I have a couple of beers I’ve got to keep going to the toilet. They think you’re going there for a reason. You get that stigma. People think they are cool. I’ve been offered it so many times and put people in their place.”

It’s actually slightly unusual that this story has come to light because often when this happens, the club wants to keep it as under-wraps as possible. It’s unclear whether Livermore is being used as an example. What is clear though, is that this couldn’t have come at a worse time for Hull, who are currently fighting relegation.

Hopefully younger footballers in general now think twice before taking someone up on their offer.