Kagiso Rabada, the lethal, sensational fast bowler hailing from South Africa, has got himself in deep trouble. The Gujarat Titans (GT) pacer had left IPL 2025 after playing first 2 matches,s PBKS & MI, citing personal reasons and went back to South Africa. Kagiso Rabada was bought by GT in the mega auction for a whopping amount of 10.75 crores.
Kagiso Rabada admits to using a recreational drug
Kagiso Rabada who had left for South Africa on 3rd April for a personal reason, shocked the world cricket when the actual reason was completely different. GT team’s management had reportedly confirmed the reason earlier as reported by ESPNcricinfo that it was a personal matter but it turned out to be a bit shocking and ugly. Kagiso Rabada, though admitted of taking a recreational drug on 3rd May 2025.
Kagiso Rabada issued a statement along with the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA), which is as follows:
“As has been reported, I recently returned to South Africa from participating in the IPL for personal reasosons. This was due to my returning an adverse analytical finding for the use of a recreational drug,”“I am deeply sorry to all those that I have let down. I will never take the privilege of playing cricket for granted. This privilege is much larger than me. It goes beyond my personal aspirations. I am serving a provisional suspension and I am looking forward to returning to the game I love playing,”
“I couldn’t have gone through this alone. I’d like to thank my agent, CSA, and Gujarat Titans for their support. I’d also like to thank SACA and my legal team for their guidance and counsel. Most importantly I’d like to thank my friends and family for their understanding and love,”“Moving forward, this moment will not define me. I will keep doing what I have always done, continuously working hard and playing with passion and devotion to my craft,”
Kagiso Rabada’s potential link of recreational drug during SA20 2025
Concerns for Kagiso Rabada
Kagiso Rabada is now serving a “provisional suspension” under the policies of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport, a South African government body. Under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations, to which Drug-Free Sport is a signatory, Rabada most likely faces a ban of anywhere up to four years for illicit drug use.
There is a clause, though, that the ban is scaled back to three months if the athlete can prove the episode was unrelated to sporting performance, and commuted further to one month “if the athlete completes a substance of abuse treatment plan that is approved by the responsible anti-doping organisation”.
The above clause perhaps will save Kagiso Rabada from a severe suspension of a year or two. Rabada hasn’t played any competitive cricket since GT vs MI clash on 29th March 2025 which makes the case quite in his favor and the WADA now is in a bit tricky position as we can say somewhat Rabada has played it safe irrespective if the recreational drug usage.
Questions aplenty
Rabada had clearly mentioned in the above statement that GT, his agent, and CSA were all somewhat aware of the fact that he had served a provisional suspension. The recreational drug was assumed to be taken in January-February 2025, and it was reported assumingly at the back end of March, it looks quite suspicious.
Rabada after playing final of SA20 2025 , he wasn’t even considered for Pakistan Tri Series involving Kiwis which began on 8th March as CSA said straightforwardly had said that Rabada won’t travel with the team which raises eyebrows.
This wasn’t the first time that CSA has taken such a stance. During the SA20 2024 edition, CSA couldn’t find a window to rearrange the championship, then they sent a second-string team for the New Zealand Test series as, which they lost by 2-0. There’s no doubt that cricket has become popular again in South Africa and helped their economy immensely, but it looks like SA20 franchises are holding the reins and somewhat the absolute authority.
Tim Paine furious with Kagiso Rabada
Tim Paine was speaking on his SEN Radio Breakfast show. The former Australian wicket-keeper pointed out that the way Rabada handled the issue isn’t great. Tim Paine questioned how swiftly the entire process happened as now Rabada is eligible to play for IPL and also in the ICC WTC 2023-25 final and said that there needs to be accountability for the total incident taken by the fast bowler
“It stinks. I don’t like this use around personal issues, and it being used to hide stuff that isn’t a personal issue. If you have a professional sportsman that’s tested for recreational drugs during a tournament in which he is playing, that doesn’t fall under personal issues for me,” said Tim Paine.
“That falls under you have broken your contract. That is not a personal issue, that is something that is happening in your personal life. Taking drugs – recreational or performance enhancing – is not a personal issue that can just be hidden for a month. A guy can be taken out the IPL, moved back to South Africa and we just let it slide under the rug. Then we will bring him back once he’s already served his ban.” he stated.
“Not only will he play against Australia in the world Test championship but he’s available to be playing now in the IPL,” No one knew about what he’s taken, what he was given or who the organising body was that oversaw it,” he added.
“If he is going to take drugs and be caught doing it, I think people deserve to know what he’s taken, how long he is being rubbed out for and who sanctioned it (the suspension). People need to be held to account for stuff like that,” he concluded.
Is something unusual?
Kagiso Rabada has been cleared to participate in IPL 2025, and according to sources with knowledge, he is eligible to play GT’s next match against MI, which is on 6th April at Wankhede, Mumbai. Rabada had left after playing his last match against MI at Ahmedabad on 29th March, that sounds quite a coincidence, or maybe just the sequence of events or it was quite premeditated, who knows?
Kagiso Rabada recently in Test cricket entered into the club of 300 wickets. He has been quite ruthless with both bowl & bat and has been a crisis man for the team. South Africa is all set to lock horns against Australia in ICC WTC 2023-25 at Lord’s on 11th June. We can expect a hostile reception for Kagiso Rabada from particularly Australian players as the two teams have been quite fierce since 2018-19 series that shook Australina cricket.
All eyes will be on WADA, will they hand a suspension to Kagiso Rabada, or will his provisional suspension be ultimate? This incident of Rabada raises unwanted and serious questions & allegations on South African cricket. Not only the recent achievements of the fast bowler but also of the team, and perhaps also a bit about franchise cricket teams in which he was a part of along with CSA.
The board along with SACA and WADA needs to answer all the questions and make sure that the sport is free from doping. We must admit that cricket hasn’t become a global sport and such sorts of headlines and analytical details are tarnishing the image of the sport. All eyes will be on WADA and the judgement where every cricket lover and analyst and expert is waiting for the answers for the game they love from the bottom of their heart.