SOUTH African cricket star Kagiso Rabada has been cleared to return to action after serving a one-month suspension for using a recreational drug. The suspension was reduced from the standard three months after Rabada completed a substance abuse treatment program, including two sessions, as per the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) rules.
Rabada tested positive for a “substance of abuse” during the SA20 T20 competition in January, with the notification coming on April 1. He accepted responsibility for the doping offence and complied with the provisional suspension.
He is now eligible to be selected for the South African national cricket team, the Proteas, for the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s, scheduled from June 11 to 15. The South African squad submission deadline to the ICC is May 12.
Additionally, Rabada will return to play for his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, the Gujarat Titans. He had left the IPL earlier this season after playing just two matches due to the suspension. The Titans’ Director of Cricket Vikram Solanki confirmed Rabada will be available for their next IPL match against the Mumbai Indians.
Rabada expressed deep regret for the incident, emphasizing that he does not take the privilege of playing cricket for granted and is committed to moving forward with passion and devotion to his craft.
Kagiso Rabada is now cleared to resume playing cricket both for South Africa in the upcoming World Test Championship final and for the Gujarat Titans in the IPL.
