South African pacer Kagiso Rabada, who left Gujarat Titans midway through the Indian Premier League (IPL) season 18 citing personal reasons, has now disclosed the true reason behind his sudden exit. On Saturday, the 29-year-old revealed that he is serving a provisional suspension after testing positive for a recreational drug and expressed regret over his actions.
In a heartfelt statement released by the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA), Rabada apologized to all those he may have let down. “I am deeply sorry to all those that I have let down,” he said. “I will never take the privilege of playing cricket for granted. This privilege is much larger than me. It goes beyond my personal aspirations.”
Rabada further added that he is currently serving a provisional suspension and is eager to return to the game he loves. “I couldn’t have gone through this alone. I’d like to thank my agent, Cricket South Africa, and Gujarat Titans for their support. I also want 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,” he stated.
Rabada played only two matches for Gujarat Titans, who signed him for Rs 107.5 million, before abruptly withdrawing from the IPL. While the initial explanation cited “personal issues,” Rabada confirmed that he returned home after an “adverse analytical finding” was reported from a drug test conducted during the SA20 League earlier this year.
His admission highlights the importance of player well-being and adherence to anti-doping regulations, and he has expressed remorse for his actions while looking forward to making a comeback to international cricket.
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