Since Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada earlier this month made the announcement that he had tested positive for a banned substance, there was much speculation about which ‘recreational drug’ the fast bowler had used.
On Sunday though, SA Institute of Drug Free Sport revealed that the drug in question was cocaine. The other three drugs that it could have been were cannabis, methamphetamine or diamorphine.
It had already been confirmed that Rabada had taken the drug out of competition when he was tested during the SA20 on January 21. Traces of the drug were still in his system at the time of the test. Rabada was informed of the results of the test on April 1.
By the time Rabada made the announcement of the adverse finding, he had already served his one-month suspension, with no further action take by Cricket SA, and soon returned to India to take his place in the Gujarat Titans side in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Kagiso Rabada’s IPL Suspension and Ban: Statement and Impact
As it turned out, the IPL would be suspended due to escalating hostilities between Pakistan and India. As a result, Rabada has not been in action since March 29.
In the only statement Rabada has made on the matter so far, the 29-year-old said: “As has been reported, I recently returned to South Africa from participating in the IPL for personal reasons. This was due to my returning an adverse analytical finding for the use of a recreational drug.
“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.
@Michael_Sherman
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