JOHANNESBURG: Kag­iso Rabada’s month suspension after he failed a drug test was because the fast bowler tested positive for cocaine, the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport has said.

Rabada, who was with the Gujarat Titans when he retur­ned home from the Indian Premier League in April, admitted failing a drug test and apologised for his actions.

The 30-year-old, ranked nu­m­­ber two in the test bowler rankings, said he had retu­rned an adverse analytical finding for the use of a recreational drug.

Rabada had been tested in January when he was playing in the SA20 for MI Cape Town and SAIDS said in a report published this week that it detected the presence of Benzoy­lecg­onine, a metabolite of cocaine.

Rabada returned from his suspension to play two matches for Gujarat, who finished third in the standings.

He is due to spearhead South Africa’s bowling attack in the World Test Champ­ionship final at Lord’s when they face Australia from June 11-15.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2025