Fresh Details Of Kagiso Rabada's Recreational Drug Use Emerge: "Cocaine..."
South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada recently served a provisional ban for recreational drug use. The 29-year-old left the IPL, after playing just two matches for Gujarat Titans (GT), to return home last month, where he served the month ban and had also completed an education and awareness programme to prevent further substance abuse. According to a report in South African newspaper Rapport, traces of benzoylecgonine (BZE), a metabolite of cocaine was found on his urine sample during the SA20 earlier this year.
The report added 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.
"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, in a statement released by GT last month, was "deeply sorry" for his actions.
"South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) has completed the investigation. Rabada has honoured his provisional suspension and has also completed a program. He is now fully available for selection in the remaining matches of the IPL."
The statement did not specify the length of the suspension.
Rabada, who played just two matches for Gujarat in this season of the T20 tournament, was "deeply sorry" for his actions.
"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.
Meanwhile, the IPL on Friday was suspened for a week amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan at the border.
The tournament could resume as early as next weekend with a India and Pakistan currently under a ceasefire agreement.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
28 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Had conversation with Nitish, want to see him bowl more overs: Morne Morkel
Nitish Reddy can produce "magical" deliveries but India's bowling coach Morne Morkel wants the batting all-rounder to bowl more overs to complement his primary skill-set of batting in the upcoming five-Test series against England. Reddy, who scored a Test hundred against Australia at the MCG in the last year's 'Boxing Day' Test is fighting for seam bowling all-rounder's slot in the playing XI with seasoned Shardul Thakur, who is more of a seamer. Reddy bowled 26.5 overs in the two 'Tests' against England Lions and Morkel has "challenged" his ward to bowl more. 'I think he (Reddy) is skillful. He is a guy who can bowl that magical ball. So for him, it is about creating that consistency and that's something we want to work on. It's important for his game as well,' the former South African fast bowling great said on sidelines of India's training session. 'I've had conversations with him where I've challenged him to bowl a bit more. I want to see the ball more in his hands. We all know what he can do with the bat. But for a team, if you can have those bowling options, especially in these conditions, I think he'll be one to be excited and compliment his bowling at that,' said Morkel. Morkel predictably didn't want to reveal team management's cards when asked who between Reddy and 11-Test old Shardul Thakur will get the nod for the Leeds Test. 'In terms of the balance, we've got very happy with that. But for us as a bowling unit, finding that gear that we're going to need in Test matches is going to be important.' The lanky former Proteas spoke about possible match-ups. 'We've spoken a lot about how we're going to go about playing and match-up England. But I think so far we're in the right way in terms of doing the preparation. And for us, like you say, when it comes to match day, with the ball, it's about execution.' Morkel is confident that Indian team has covered all its bases in terms of squad election. 'I think in terms of that we cover, like you say, all the bases. But for us now, the key thing is to get Test match fit, ready, that sharpness, to get that back. We haven't played Test matches for a while now. 'In England, the conditions can suit you and it's overcast, but still it's going to be good surfaces. I think we're going to be testing that.' The key is to have players fit and match-ready ensuring that the stay 90 overs on the field, said Morkel. "We've only had three sessions so far. We've got a four-day warm-up game (vs India A) starting in two days' time. I'm going to be more interested to see how our guys go in that four-day game," Morkel said. While India has already had three sessions, Morkel said it is not a great indicator about a player's physical ability to stay on the field. 'It's one thing judging a net session, but for our guys to stand in the field, getting used to doing 90 overs in the field, that's going to take some time. We need to realise that and we need to be patient with that. 'We need to find a way to get up to speed as quick as possible because that's going to be a real test.' Morkel feels that sudden change of temperatures and chilly weather can lead too to stiffness. 'English outfields are quite heavy. The weather conditions are quite cold, so your body can stiffen up. So it's one thing for me ticking a box, doing well in the nets, but again, it's that match fitness, that time in the field that we need to, as quick as possible, find a way to get up to speed with.' Morkel couldn't be more happier watching the players take ownership and responsibility during training sessions. 'I think that's one of the things that has impressed me so much in these two-day sessions we've had. The guys sort of stepped up by themselves. They've taken that ownership, that responsibility, and realizing that it's going to be a tough tour. 'I think that's the pleasing thing as coaches, to see guys taking that leadership and ownership in practice.' Morkel also brushed away theory about Jasprit Bumrah being under-cooked with only some IPL matches in his kitty. 'He (Bumrah) knows how to get himself ready. He knows how to prepare. And like you say, I was blown away to see the energy in the ball the last three days. So that's very exciting to see happy 'Boom'.' 'I'm just happy his body is in good shape at the moment and we'll manage him with that. And we'll be smart with him because he's obviously key for us,' he concluded.
India Today
39 minutes ago
- India Today
Australia tough to beat: Beau Webster hails bowlers for WTC Final start
Australia all-rounder and Day 1 standout Beau Webster credited the bowling unit for Australia's strong start in the World Test Championship Final against South Africa at Lord's on June 11. Despite a fiery five-wicket haul from Kagiso Rabada, Australia ended the day on top thanks to a late fightback with the played a crucial hand with the bat, scoring a composed 72 to anchor Australia's innings alongside Steve Smith, who added 66. Their efforts helped push Australia to 212, a total that looked competitive after what vs SA, WTC Final Day 1: Highlights "Our bowling attack is so strong for a number of years now. We know if we can't do it with the bat, our bowlers will do it. Outstanding from the boys," Webster said at stumps on Day 1 to the response, Mitchell Starc set the tone early with the ball, dismissing Aiden Markram in the opening over. He finished with 2/10 as South Africa's top order collapsed. Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, and Wiaan Mulder all fell cheaply, with South Africa closing Day 1 at 43/ 5/51 had earlier put South Africa in control, but their batting faltered under pressure. With Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham at the crease — Bedingham finishing the day with back-to-back boundaries off Pat Cummins — South Africa will need a significant effort on Day 2 to stabilise the early setbacks, Australia's fightback with the ball has put them in a commanding position after the opening day at Lord's.
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
WTC Final: Pacers Lord over batters
Caught first slip. Caught second slip. Caught keeper. Caught keeper. Caught first slip. Bowled. Bowled. Caught first slip. Bowled. Bowled. Bowled. Caught first slip. Bowled. Bowled. There was a very clear trend behind all 14 wickets to fall on Day One of the final of the World Test Championships between South Africa and Australia. After the former invited the latter to bat in overcast conditions, they either induced the outside edge or found the stumps. When it was time for the holders to bowl in the third session, they returned the favour in kind. It was just that kind of day, and surface, at Lord's. The bowlers knew there was juice to be extracted as it was nibbling both ways. The wobble seam — an increasingly important weapon in a seamer's arsenal when bowling in these parts — again played a big role. The end result? This generation's generational red-ball operators — Mitchell Starc, Kagiso Rabada, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins — all left their footprint in the longest format's showpiece event of the last two years. The awesome foursome scalped nine wickets for just 85 runs across 36 bewitching overs. But South Africa, seeking their first men's ICC title this century, were in the mire when stumps were drawn on Wednesday. The Proteas were 43/4, trailing Australia by 169 runs. The holders may have left a few runs with the bat but their bowlers were on the money right from the off. In England, it's all about making that adjustment to hit that same top of off mark and they made that adjustment that bit sooner. They were also more disciplined in their length as they kept the most common mode of dismissals — nicked behind to the keeper or cordon or bowled or lbw — in play throughout the third session. In the absence of freebies, bowlers were given extended runs to the same batters. Here are a few samples. Wiaan Mulder's three came off 37 deliveries. Temba Bavuma played out five overs before opening his account. The only time Australia erred in line, it came two balls before stumps when a tired Cummins went in search of two magic balls in succession. David Bedingham put both of those balls away. But the Proteas need more of those if they want to realise their dream of global glory. Two hours into Wednesday, though, they would have been excused for doing just that at lunch. There were several strange similarities to the last World Test Championship final after the first 30 overs on Wednesday. South Africa, just like India did at The Oval two Junes ago, opted to bowl first in overcast conditions. Just like India, they had picked up early wickets. Just like India, the Proteas were the happier of the two dressing rooms at lunch. Team winning the toss bowling first under overcast skies. Australia finding it tough before Usman Khawaja leaving without scoring after a torturous existence. Marnus Labuschagne gamely fighting before leaving after a torturous existence. An explosive left-hander nicking one down the leg-side to the keeper. Australia going nowhere at lunch. In 2023, though, Australia kept going from strength to strength as the Indian bowlers were defanged by a combination of Travis Head's bravura batting and Steve Smith's solidity. But the South African bowling unit, taller, a few clicks pacier and also comprising a left-arm seamer, stuck to their guns in a manner the Indian attack didn't. Both units strayed and lacked discipline at times in the two sessions after lunch — Australia scoring a bulk of their runs in boundaries against both attacks was proof of this — but Rabada, Jansen and the others were able to extract more bounce off the surface and married it with optimum seam off the surface in a way the Indian bowlers couldn't. The end result? After being inserted in, Australia stumbled staggered to 210 from a seemingly commanding 142/4 after 41.5 overs. How South Africa bagged all 10 wickets was indicative of the help they had on the surface. However, at the end of an ultimately sun-kissed Day One, Cummins & Co will know they have taken the initiative to retain the mace. Brief scores: Australia 212 in 56.4 ovs (Webster 72, Smith 66; Rabada 5/51, Jansen 3/49) vs South Africa 43/4 in 22 ovs (Rickelton 16; Starc 2/10).
