"Kagiso Rabada has broken the contract"; blocked from playing WTC Final vs Australia

Former Australia captain Tim Paine has expressed his reservations over the protocols that permitted Kagiso Rabada to return to play as early as this week after testing positive for recreational drug use.

Last month, the South African pacer returned home from the IPL, citing personal reasons. A couple of days ago, Kagiso Rabada himself revealed the reason behind leaving the IPL abruptly, saying that he was serving a provisional suspension after testing positive for recreational drug use.

Rabada had to leave IPL 2025 in the middle

According to reports, the star pacer tested positive during the SA20 in January-February this year. He was plying his trade for MI Cape Town in the competition. In a statement, Kagiso Rabada opened up on the entire episode and also issued an apology.

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"As has been reported, I recently returned to South Africa from participating in the IPL for personal reasons," Kagiso Rabada said in his statement.

"This was due to my returning an adverse analytical finding for the use of a recreational drug. 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," he added.

Tim Paine questions Kagiso Rabada's return:

While Kagiso Rabada is gearing up to return to action, Tim Paine has expressed his reservations over the entire process that allowed him to make such a swift return. Rabada has already linked up with the Gujarat Titans squad in India, although the South African Institute for Drug Free Sport is set to clarify his case on Monday (May 5).

Paine did not mince his words as he told SEN Radio, "It stinks."

"I don’t like this use around personal issues, and it being used to hide stuff that isn’t a personal issue. If you have a professional sportsman that’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; that is something that is happening in your personal life.

"Taking drugs – recreational or performance enhancing – is not a personal issue that can just be hidden for a month. A guy can be taken out of the IPL, moved back to South Africa, and we just let it slide under the rug. Then we will bring him back once he’s already served his ban," he added.

WTC Final spot also questioned

Speaking further, Paine expressed his disappointment over the way the entire matter was handled, saying that people deserved to know 'what he’s taken, how long he is being rubbed out for, and who sanctioned it'.

"Not only will he play against Australia in the World Test Championship, but he’s available to be playing 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," said Paine.

"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 (the suspension). People need to be held to account for stuff like that," he added.

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