IPL 2025: Revealed! Kagiso Rabada Copped Ban For Cocaine Use Amid His Stint With Gujarat Titans, Claims Report

With Kagiso Rabada revealed to have tested positive for a recreational substance and serving a one-month ban for the same in IPL 2025, the prohibited drug he consumed reportedly was benzoylecgonine (BZE), a metabolite of Cocaine. According to newspaper Rapport, the urine sample provided by Rabada on January 21 after MI Cape Town's SA20 game against the Durban Super Giants showed traces of the drug.

The Proteas speedster's legal team was able to prove that the use of cocaine was out of the competition and the quantity usage was was less than 1,000 nanograms per millilitre. Although it indicated the use of cocaine but not on the day of test.

kagiso rabada greatest super over bowler in cricket history ☝️
just 9 runs conceded in 9 balls
wickets? andre russell, kl rahul, nicholas pooran
cold-blooded stuff pic.twitter.com/ULztyuHBA1

— rishi (@rishi__w) April 17, 2025

Speaking to Rapport, Khalid Galant, CEO of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport said:

"He was smart to go down that route. If you know you did it, it saves you time and legal fees."

"I will never take the privilege of playing cricket for granted" - Kagiso Rabada

Rabada later apologized for his actions and for letting people down. The Johannesburg-born speedster said he is keenly looking forward to returning to action, stating, as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo:

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

Although Rabada was available for selection for the game against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, he didn't play.