Tim Paine questions Kagiso Rabada’s secrecy
Kagiso Rabada missed out the majority of IPL. (Photo credit: Getty Images)South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada is set to return to action in IPL 2025 with Gujarat Titans, nearly a month after suddenly withdrawing from the tournament.
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Initially described as a “personal issue,” Rabada later disclosed in a public statement that his absence was due to a suspension for using recreational drugs.
His return to cricket comes after completing the suspension, though details such as the substance used, the length of the ban, and which body imposed it remain undisclosed.
It has been confirmed, however, that Rabada did not use any performance-enhancing drugs.
South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has revealed he is serving a provisional suspension after testing positive for a recreational drug. pic.twitter.com/nmM3km16Cc
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) May 3, 2025
Former Australia captain Tim Paine however has criticised the entire episode.
“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 having 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 said.
PAINE QUESTIONS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY
Paine has criticized the handling of the situation, expressing concern over the lack of transparency. Rabada is now available to play both in the remainder of the IPL season and for South Africa in the World Test Championship final.
“Not only will he play against Australia in the world Test Championship, but he’s also available to play now in the IPL,” Paine said. “No one knew about what he’s taken, what he was given, or who the organising body that oversaw it was.
“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.”
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