Rabada one of 16 cricketers tested during SA20 — SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport

South Africa’s CEO of drug-free sport in the country, Khalid Galant, revealed on Wednesday that Proteas cricketer Kagiso Rabada was one of about 16 players tested for substance abuse during the SA20 cricket competition in January.

Rabada recently returned to South Africa from India where he was playing for the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League after it had been discovered he’d tested positive for an illegal substance during a random test during the SA20.

The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids) said fast bowler Rabada had tested positive for a recreational drug and not a performance-enhancing drug. He served a one-month suspension and is back in India, and available to play fort the Titans.

‘Not the only player tested’

Galant told SportsBoom.co.za Rabada had been tested between his MI Cape Town team’s match against Durban’s Super Giants.

“He was tested after the match, he provided the sample, and that sample tested positive for substance of abuse,” Galant told SportsBoom.co.za.

“We did about 16 tests throughout the SA20 competition. So, he wasn’t the only player tested.

“In South Africa, in terms of this substance, I think we haven’t had a positive in cricket in a few years. Internationally, it may be different. In the last two or three years, we haven’t had a high number of positive cases in cricket.”

Galant added only Rabada could currently reveal what substance was found in his system. The Institute for Drug-Free Sport could only disclose the substance after an appeal period had lapsed.

“Mr Rabada can disclose the substance. It is best to ask him. We are only able to disclose the substance after the appeal period has lapsed, which is 30 days from when the decision was rendered.

“In terms of the substance of abuse, there are four substances that fall into this category. It’s cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and marijuana,” said Galant.

Rabada earlier this week expressed his regret about using an “illegal” substance.

“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.”

Anything from a warning to a two year ban

Galant further stated the institute followed world anti-doping rules in meting out the one month suspension.

“The World Anti-Doping Code, from which the South African Anti-Doping Rules are an iteration, a national version of it, sets out the framework for sanctions and how we should treat the sanction with an athlete who tests positive in the category of a substance of abuse,” said Galant.

“So, generally, the sanction can be anywhere from a warning, three months to two years. It all depends on the nature of the case and the concentration and whether the athlete can prove that he took the substance out of competition, but he tested positive, he still had remnants of it or metabolites of the substance during the competition test.”

Galant further stated Rabada was able to prove the drug he used was for recreational purposes only.

“Both Saids and Mr Rabada had a pharmacological expert review the concentration, and the timeline based on the affidavit provided by Rabada, supported the data and the analysis supported his position that the substance was consumed out of competition.”