Former Australian captain Tim Paine has questioned the process under which South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada tested positive for recreational drug use but is set to return to play as early as this week after serving a suspension.
Rabada revealed on Saturday night that a positive drugs test and subsequent provisional ban were the reasons why he abruptly left the Indian Premier League at the end of March. The positive test was recorded during the South Africa Twenty20 league in January.
Kagiso Rabada celebrates dismissing Tim Paine in 2018.Credit: AP
While apologising for his actions, Rabada also indicated that “I am looking forward to returning to the game I love playing”.
The South African Institute for Drug Free Sport is set to clarify Rabada’s case later on Monday, but the 29-year-old fast bowler has already returned to the Indian Premier League and may play as soon as this week for Gujarat Titans.
He will then be eligible to play in the world Test championship final against Australia at Lord’s in June. Paine questioned how the episode was handled.
“It stinks,” Paine said on his SEN Radio breakfast show. “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 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.”
There has been some consternation in Australian cricket circles about how Rabada’s positive test and return home were cloaked in secrecy, before he spoke publicly on his way back to the IPL.
“Not only will he play against Australia in the world Test championship but he’s available to be playing now in the IPL,” Paine said. “No one knew about what he’s taken, what he was given or who the organising body was that oversaw it.
Kagiso Rabada, seen here with Pat Cummins, is a key threat to Australia’s World Test Championship bid.Credit: Getty
“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.”
Under World Anti-Doping Authority regulations, a positive test is regarded as “out of competition” if the player can prove that the drug use took place before 11.59pm on the eve of competition and was not intended to enhance performance, reducing the penalty to three months from anywhere up to four years.
The penalty can then be commuted further, to one month, if the athlete completes a drug treatment program under the supervision of the relevant authority.
“I couldn’t have gone through this alone,” Rabada said. “I’d like to thank my agent, CSA, and Gujarat Titans for their support. I’d also like to thank SACA and my legal team for their guidance and counsel.
“Most importantly, I’d like to thank my friends and family for their understanding and love. Moving forward, this moment will not define me. I will keep doing what I have always done, continuously working hard and playing with passion and devotion to my craft.”
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