Latest news with #SouthAfricanAnti-DopingRules
Indian Express
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘He was smart to go down that route': How Kagiso Rabada's legal team helped him avoid extended doping ban
After a month away from competitive action due to his ban for his positive test for recreational drug use, Kagiso Rabada was marked for a comeback earlier this month with the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2025. It has now been revealed that the South African pacer tested positive for cocaine and that the involvement of his legal team avoided him a lengthy doping ban and absence from the field. According to South African newspaper Rapport, Rabada provided a urine sample on January 21 after MI Cape Town's SA20 match against Durban Super Giants at Kingsmead and it was shown to return traces of benzoylecgonine (BZE), a metabolite of cocaine. Rabada's legal team later reportedly proved that the 29-year-old seamer had used cocaine out of competition. As the concentration was less than 1,000 nanograms per millilitre, the legal team indicated that the use of cocaine was not on the day of the test. It was also reported that Rabada declined the option of having a second sample test. 'He was smart to go down that route. If you know you did it, it saves you time and legal fees,' Khalid Galant, CEO of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS), told Rapport. Rabada's last outing in the IPL was on March 29 against the Mumbai Indians before returning home for the entire month of April. 'I am deeply sorry to all those that I have let down,' Rabada 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.' Rabada 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. '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. 'As per the South African Anti-Doping Rules specifically pertaining to Substances of Abuse, the player was offered an opportunity to complete a substance abuse treatment program.
The Citizen
07-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Rabada one of 16 cricketers tested during SA20 — SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport
The Proteas fast bowler has served a one-month suspension and is available to play again. South Africa's CEO of drug-free sport in the country, Khalid Galant, revealed on Wednesday that Proteas cricketer Kagiso Rabada was one of about 16 players tested for substance abuse during the SA20 cricket competition in January. Rabada recently returned to South Africa from India where he was playing for the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League after it had been discovered he'd tested positive for an illegal substance during a random test during the SA20. The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids) said fast bowler Rabada had tested positive for a recreational drug and not a performance-enhancing drug. He served a one-month suspension and is back in India, and available to play fort the Titans. 'Not the only player tested' Galant told Rabada had been tested between his MI Cape Town team's match against Durban's Super Giants. 'He was tested after the match, he provided the sample, and that sample tested positive for substance of abuse,' Galant told 'We did about 16 tests throughout the SA20 competition. So, he wasn't the only player tested. 'In South Africa, in terms of this substance, I think we haven't had a positive in cricket in a few years. Internationally, it may be different. In the last two or three years, we haven't had a high number of positive cases in cricket.' Galant added only Rabada could currently reveal what substance was found in his system. The Institute for Drug-Free Sport could only disclose the substance after an appeal period had lapsed. 'Mr Rabada can disclose the substance. It is best to ask him. We are only able to disclose the substance after the appeal period has lapsed, which is 30 days from when the decision was rendered. 'In terms of the substance of abuse, there are four substances that fall into this category. It's cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and marijuana,' said Galant. Rabada earlier this week expressed his regret about using an 'illegal' substance. '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. I am serving a provisional suspension, and I am looking forward to returning to the game I love playing.' Anything from a warning to a two year ban Galant further stated the institute followed world anti-doping rules in meting out the one month suspension. 'The World Anti-Doping Code, from which the South African Anti-Doping Rules are an iteration, a national version of it, sets out the framework for sanctions and how we should treat the sanction with an athlete who tests positive in the category of a substance of abuse,' said Galant. 'So, generally, the sanction can be anywhere from a warning, three months to two years. It all depends on the nature of the case and the concentration and whether the athlete can prove that he took the substance out of competition, but he tested positive, he still had remnants of it or metabolites of the substance during the competition test.' Galant further stated Rabada was able to prove the drug he used was for recreational purposes only. 'Both Saids and Mr Rabada had a pharmacological expert review the concentration, and the timeline based on the affidavit provided by Rabada, supported the data and the analysis supported his position that the substance was consumed out of competition.'
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
South Africa's Kagiso Rabada Returns After Drug Ban
South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada can resume playing cricket after serving a one-month ban for testing positive for a recreational drug, the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) has announced. As per the South African Anti-Doping Rules specifically pertaining to substance abuse, the player was offered an opportunity to complete a substance abuse treatment program. After Mr. Rabada satisfactorily completed two sessions of his treatment program, his provisional suspension ended. Advertisement He is now eligible to be selected in the South Africa squad for the ICC World Test Championship Final, which needs to be submitted to the International Cricket Council by May 12. "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." Rabada said in a statement released via the South African Cricketers' Association. "Moving forward, 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,' he added. Cricket South Africa also released a statement on the matter. Advertisement 'The incident is regrettable, however, Rabada has reassured CSA and his fans of his commitment to upholding professional standards and has restated his passion for the sport of cricket and the country he represents with purpose. CSA is fully committed to drug-free sport and reminds cricket players, both professional and amateur, of the importance of adhering to all regulations. We are steadfast in our support to all players in this regard.' The Proteas face off against defending champions Australia in the one-off decider at Lord's, which starts on June 11.
New Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Sport
- New Indian Express
IPL 2025: Ban on Rabada for using prohibited drug is lifted after he completes 'treatment program'
NEW DELHI: The provisional ban on South African pacer Kagiso Rabada for using a prohibited recreational drug has been lifted after he completed a "substance abuse treatment program" during the suspension, making him available for his IPL franchise Gujarat Titans. According to a statement from the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS), Rabada, who has already linked up with the Gujarat Tians after serving his suspension, can now take the field. GT will take on Mumbai Indians in Mumbai on Tuesday. The 30-year-old was tested during the SA20 league in January and the lifting of suspension also makes him available for the World Test Championship final against Australia next month. "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. "As per the South African Anti-Doping Rules specifically pertaining to Substances of Abuse, the player was offered an opportunity to complete a substance abuse treatment program. After Mr. Rabada satisfactorily completed two sessions of his treatment program, his provisional suspension ended. The player has effectively served a one-month period of ineligibility and may now resume participation in sport," it added.
Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
IPL 2025: Kagiso Rabada completes treatment program; available to play for Gujarat Titans
Kagiso Rabada, who was given a provisional ban for using a prohibited recreational drug, has now been cleared to participate in cricket activities and can be a part of the Gujarat Titans IPL campaign. The South African pacer was cleared to return to cricket by South African Institute for Drug Free Sports (SAIDS), who said that he had completed a one-month ban and had also completed an education and awareness programme to prevent further substance abuse. '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. 'As per the South African Anti-Doping Rules specifically pertaining to Substances of Abuse, the player was offered an opportunity to complete a substance abuse treatment program. 'After Mr. Rabada satisfactorily completed two sessions of his treatment program, his provisional suspension ended. The player has effectively served a one-month period of ineligibility and may now resume participation in sport,' it added. Once the reports broke of Rabada's recreational drug use, the 30-year-old put out a statement. 'Moving forward, 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 had said. But Australian cricket Tim Paine had earlier spoken to SEN Radio and said that while Rabada's actions were a personal issue, the cover up of the matter was problematic. 'That is not a personal issue, that is something that is happening in your personal life. Taking drugs – recreational or performance enhancing – is not a personal issue that can just be hidden for a month. A guy can be taken out of the IPL, moved back to South Africa, and we just let it slide under the rug. Then we will bring him back once he's already served his ban,' said Paine.
