South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has been suspended for testing positive for a banned substance. The right-arm pacer took a recreational drug while representing the MI Cape Town in the SA20 earlier in the year, according to ESPNcricinfo.
Representing the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Rabada had returned to South Africa on April 3. It was reported that the pacer has an ‘important personal matter’ to attend to. It’s evident now that his suspension was the reason.
Kagiso Rabada fails drug test
Rabada has accepted the ruling. While it’s not yet revealed for how long he’s been suspended, it’s fair to say he won’t return to play for GT or in the IPL 2025 season. There might be a chance that Rabada is out of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 against Australia as well.
“As has been reported, I recently returned to South Africa from participating in the IPL for personal reasons. 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,” Rabada said in a statement issued by the South African Cricketers’ Association.
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