South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada revealed on Saturday that he was currently serving a ban from cricket due to recreational drug use.
Rabada, 29, returned to South Africa last month “for personal reasons” after participating in only two matches for Gujarat Titans in the ongoing Indian Premier League.
In a statement issued through the South African Cricketers’ Association, Rabada attributed his absence to “an adverse analytical finding for the use of a recreational drug,” which he stated resulted in him serving a provisional suspension.
The statement did not specify the duration of the suspension or provide a timeline for Rabada’s return to playing. However, Rabada expressed, “I am looking forward to returning to the game I love playing.”
Gujarat Titans have four remaining fixtures in the league stage of the IPL, commencing with a match against Mumbai Indians on Tuesday. The team is also well-positioned to qualify for the play-offs, having won seven of their ten matches thus far.
Rabada is a leading fast bowler for South Africa, having taken 327 wickets in 70 Test matches. He is expected to play a crucial role for South Africa in the World Test Championship final against Australia, scheduled to begin at Lord´s in London on June 11.
In his statement, he said, “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.”
He added, “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.”
