South African cricket star Kagiso Rabada admitted to testing positive for a recreational drug in an exclusive statement last week.
He received a one-month ban from the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sports (SAIDS) for the offence.
Rabada has since been cleared to resume playing for the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and is set to represent South Africa at the World Test Championship final.
SAIDS CEO Khalid Galant has offered more insight into the testing process and Rabada’s case, saying only Rabada could disclose the substance that was found in his system.
Galant added that SAIDS could only disclose after a grace period had lapsed.
“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 told sportsboom.co.za.
Only Rabada can disclose the drug he used
He continued: “The SA20 is the professional franchise competition in South African cricket that is regularly tested in terms of our testing calendar.
“The match where Rabada was tested was the match between the Cape Town franchise and the Durban franchise.
“He was tested after the match; he provided the sample, and that sample tested positive for substance abuse.”
Added Galant: “Both SAIDS and Rabada had a pharmacological expert to review the concentration and the timeline based on the affidavit provided by Rabada and supported the data, and the analysis supported his position that the substance was consumed out of competition.
“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.”
Rabada is deeply sorry
Rabada had left the IPL early in April, citing “personal reasons”, only to find out the reason behind his early departure was a provisional one-month suspension imposed by SAIDS.
“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,” Rabada said in a statement.
“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.”
