South Africa’s leading fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has confirmed that he returned an adverse analytical finding for the use of a recreational drug and is serving a provisional suspension. The confirmation was released on Saturday 3 May through the South African Cricketers’ Association, the body that represents the country’s professional players. The case arrives weeks before the World Test Championship final at Lord’s, where South Africa are due to face Australia.
The statement
Rabada, 29, said in the statement that he had “returned an adverse analytical finding for the use of a recreational drug” and that he is serving a provisional suspension. He added: “Moving forward, this moment will not define me.” The Sunday Independent reported that he said he was deeply sorry. An adverse analytical finding is the term used in anti-doping when a sample result requires further investigation before any conclusion is reached.
The IPL exit
Rabada returned home from the Indian Premier League at the start of April after playing two matches for Gujarat Titans, and the franchise described an “important personal matter” at the time. The Indian Premier League is a franchise Twenty20 competition played in India each year, and it was in its opening weeks when Rabada left. The competition is played by ten franchises from across India, and Gujarat Titans are based in Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat. The BBC reports that he played the Titans’ first two matches of the season and took two wickets before flying home. His return home came about a month before the adverse finding was confirmed on 3 May.
Cricket South Africa’s response
Cricket South Africa is the national governing body for cricket in the country, and it confirmed the finding. The board said: “The incident is regrettable. However, Rabada has reassured CSA and his fans of his commitment to upholding professional standards.” CSA added that it “is fully committed to drug-free sport”. The board’s remarks were reported by the BBC and the Guardian.
What comes next
Neither Rabada nor Cricket South Africa has disclosed the substance involved or the length of the provisional suspension as yet. The BBC reports that no timescale has been given for the suspension, which is a temporary measure that applies while the case is considered. It is not a final finding, and the matter has not been resolved. Rabada is due to play in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s, where South Africa face Australia from 11 to 15 June, according to the BBC. The match at Lord’s in London is the concluding fixture of the ICC World Test Championship, which is the International Cricket Council’s competition for Test cricket. Test cricket is the longest format of the international game and is played over five days, with two innings for each side. Those details are the ones still outstanding, and the final at Lord’s is now less than six weeks away.
The Guardian reports that he is ranked second in the ICC Test bowling rankings, with 327 wickets at an average of 22 from 70 Tests, 168 dismissals in 108 one-day internationals and 71 wickets in 65 Twenty20 internationals. An average in bowling is the number of runs conceded for each wicket taken. The bowling rankings measure players across all the countries that play Test cricket. One-day internationals and Twenty20 internationals are the shorter formats of the international game. A wicket is a dismissal, and the figures above cover Rabada’s career across the three international formats. The BBC reports that in October he became the sixth South African to reach 300 Test wickets, and that he was the quickest by deliveries bowled.
Related: Rabada Takes Five as Australia Bowled Out for 212 in World Test Championship Final
Sources: BBC Sport, https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/ce3q6q3v26xo; The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/may/03/south-africa-cricket-kagiso-rabada-banned-failing-recreational-drug-test; Sunday Independent, https://sundayindependent.co.za/sport/cricket/proteas/2025-05-03-i-am-deeply-sorry-proteas-star-kagiso-rabada-confirms-serving-provisional-suspension-after-testing-positive-for-recreational-drug/
