How Kagiso Rabada avoided doping ban to return swiftly for IPL 2025

South Africa's Kagiso Rabada celebrates the dismissal of New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra during the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal cricket match between New Zealand and South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan. AP/PTI

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IPL 2025 | Kagiso Rabada: 'Even a No. 10 can hit a six... there's no mystery anymore'

According to South African newspaper Rapport, pacer Kagiso Rabada 's legal team helped him to get away with a length ban after traces of benzoylecgonine (BZE), a metabolite of cocaine was found on his urine sample during SA20 in January.Rapport reported 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, 29, left the Indian Premier League to return home last month after a positive drug test resulted in him serving a provisional suspension.“I am deeply sorry to all those that I have let down,” Rabada has 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.”The 29-year-old 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.Rabada is South Africa's leading fast bowler. He has taken 327 wickets in 70 Tests and is expected to play a key role for South Africa in the World Test Championship final against Australia starting at Lord's in London on June 11.

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