How Kagiso Rabada avoided doping ban to return swiftly for IPL 2025

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / May 11, 2025, 13:56 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada faced a ban after testing positive for benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, during the SA20. His legal team successfully argued that the substance use was out-of-competition, leading to a reduced penalty. Rabada served a one-month ban, completed an educational program, and expressed remorse for his actions.

How Kagiso Rabada avoided doping ban to return swiftly for IPL 2025

South Africa's Kagiso Rabada celebrates the dismissal of New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra during the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal cricket match between New Zealand and South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan. AP/PTI

According to South African newspaper Rapport, pacer Kagiso Rabada's legal team helped him to get away with a length ban after traces of benzoylecgonine (BZE), a metabolite of cocaine was found on his urine sample during SA20 in January. Rapport reported that Rabada's legal team demonstrated his cocaine use was out of competition because the concentration (under 1,000 nanograms per millilitre) suggested prior use, not use on the day of testing.

Operation Sindoor

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

“He was smart to go down that route,” Khalid Galant, CEO of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS), told Rapport. “If you know you did it, it saves you time and legal fees.”

Rabada, 29, left the Indian Premier League to return home last month after a positive drug test resulted in him serving a provisional suspension.Who's that IPL player?“I am deeply sorry to all those that I have let down,” Rabada has said in a statement. “I will never take the privilege of playing cricket for granted. This privilege is much larger than me. It goes beyond my personal aspirations.”The 29-year-old was cleared by SAIDS last week, stating that he had completed a one-month ban and had also completed an education and awareness programme to prevent further substance abuse.

IPL 2025 | Kagiso Rabada: 'Even a No. 10 can hit a six... there's no mystery anymore'

“Mr. Rabada tested positive for a Substance of Abuse and was subsequently notified of the allegation of his doping offence on 1 April 2025. A provisional suspension was imposed and Mr. Rabada returned immediately to South Africa from India,” the release stated.Rabada is South Africa's leading fast bowler. He has taken 327 wickets in 70 Tests and is expected to play a key role for South Africa in the World Test Championship final against Australia starting at Lord's in London on June 11.

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article