South Africa can breathe a sigh of relief. Their premier pacer Kagiso Rabada is likely to be eligible to play the ICC WTC Final 2025 despite serving a provisional suspension for a failed recreational drug test. Rabada, who played two matches in IPL 2025 for Gujarat Titans, returned home due to “personal reasons,” hiding his provisional ban. But as he has admitted, and it’s his first offence, the ICC might let him go with just a month-long suspension and fine.
While the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) has a minimum of a three-month suspension for recreational drug use, it can be reduced to a month. For that to happen, Rabada has to establish that he ingested the substance out of competition. For now, there is no clarity on the substance he took. The drug test happened during SA20 2025 in January.
Recreational drugs as per WADA
Cocaine MDMA /Ecstasy (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) Heroin (Diamorphine) THC or Cannabinoids (Tetrahydrocannabinol)Rabada back in IPL
While Rabada left home on April 3, citing personal reasons, he is back with Gujarat Titans, exactly a month after his departure. That could hint at the completion of a one-month suspension. That would not only make him eligible to play for GT in the remainder of IPL 2025 but also the AUS vs SA WTC Final 2025.
The World Test Championship final takes place at Lord’s in England, starting June 11. If he has already served his suspension, Rabada is all set to be available. South Africa have a week to submit their squad for the WTC Final with the deadline set at May 11.
It stinks: Tim Paine
However, former Australia captain Tim Paine is not happy with the lack of transparency surrounding Kagiso Rabada’s suspension. The ICC has maintained silence on this matter, with only Rabada releasing a statement apologising for his drug abuse.
“It stinks. I don’t like this use around personal issues, and it is being used to hide stuff that isn’t a personal issue. If you have a professional sportsman who’s tested for recreational drugs during a tournament in which he is playing, that doesn’t fall under personal issues for me. That falls under you have broken your contract. That is not a personal issue,” Tim Paine told SEN Radio on Monday.
Paine is also not happy that he is back in IPL 2025 and will be eligible to play the WTC Final against Australia. Gujarat Titans will play their next match on May 6. If Rabada plays, his suspension has already ended.
“Not only will play against Australia in the World Test Championship, but he’s available to play now in the IPL. No one knew about what he’s taken, what he was given or who the organising body was that oversaw it. If he is going to take drugs and be caught doing it, I think people deserve to know what he’s taken, how long he is being rubbed out for and who sanctioned it. People need to be held to account for stuff like that,” Tim Paine added.
Kagiso Rabada eligible for WTC Final despite provisional suspension Inside Sport India.
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