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“Rabada Was Smart…” How SA Pacer Evaded Lengthy Doping Ban Finally Explained

Aakash Saini

Kagiso Rabada [Source: AP]Kagiso Rabada [Source: AP]

South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada left competitive cricket for a month back in March earlier this year after playing just a couple of IPL 2025 matches for the Gujarat Titans. While earlier reports indicated that the speedster left India citing personal reasons, it was later revealed that the 29-year-old was tested positive on a doping test for recreational drug use.

Nonetheless, Rabada ended up surviving an extended doping ban, courtesy of his legal team. Here, we take a look at how he smartly escaped with just a one-month ban.

Kagiso Rabada evades extensive doping ban

Kagiso Rabada was tested positive for cocaine earlier this year. According to a South African newspaper, the speedster had provided a urine sample back in January during the SA20 2025 season. The test returned with traces of benzoylecgonine (BZE), a metabolite of cocaine.

The legal team of Kagiso Rabada later reportedly proved that the fast bowler did not used the drug during the competition. Moreover, even the concentration was found to be less than 1,000 nanograms per millilitre. The speedster also declined the option of having a second sample test.

Khalid Galant, CEO of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport, called Kagiso Rabada “smart” for admitting to the offense, which ended up saving him time and legal fees and even a possible extended ban from the game.

Kagiso Rabada in IPL 2025

Kagiso Rabada played a couple of matches for the Gujarat Titans franchise earlier in the IPL 2025 season before flying back to South Africa. However, a few days after his return to the team in May, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suspended the league for a week citing India’s border tensions with Pakistan.

Rabada has taken just a couple of wickets so far this IPL 2025 at an expensive average of 41.50.