‘People will have their different opinions’ — Rabada focused on WTC after drugs ban

Kagiso Rabada of the Proteas during day 3 of the 1st Betway Test match between South Africa and West Indies at SuperSport Park on March 02, 2023 in Centurion, South Africa. (Photo: Lee Warren / Gallo Images)

By Keanan Hemmonsbey

1 Jun 2025

‘I’m going to keep playing for the country, keep doing my best and live with whatever comes my way,’ Kagiso Rabada said in his first press conference since the substance abuse ban.

Proteas pace ace Kagiso Rabada has faced the media for the first time since his one-month substance abuse ban in April.

Rabada was initially handed a three-month ban by the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids) after a random drugs test on 21 January found “substances of abuse” in his system. These are categorised as either cocaine, heroin, MDMA/ecstasy or THC by Saids.

The fast-bowler, the fifth-highest Test wicket taker in South Africa’s history, is gearing up for the World Test Championship (WTC) final from 11 June against Australia at Lord’s Cricket Ground in England.

Rabada was initially reluctant to answer any questions when probed about the circumstances that got him into the position of consuming one of the aforementioned drugs, instead pointing to the statement he put out after his ban came to light.

“The thing about that incident is… I’ve put it down in my statement,” he said. “I didn’t take 30 seconds to write it down. Everything is there. I don’t think there’s any more to speak of that.

“If I had to elaborate a bit more and move away from it and see how it influenced me, it led me to a bit of introspection about myself. I took some time away from the game.

Rabada Kagiso Rabada bowls against India at SuperSport Park in Centurion on 29 December 2021. (Photo: Lee Warren / Gallo Images)

“The biggest thing I took from it is having gratitude for playing the game that we love and I’m just glad to be playing again.

“I’d like to thank, again, Saca (South African Cricketers’ Association), they were phenomenal in this, and Cricket South Africa.

“The process was handled really well. Andrew Breetzke (CEO at Saca) led it very well and the decision to come back early was brilliant.

“That’s a decision that I made. I could have tried to contest it and whatnot, but coming home was the best option and I was in good hands.

“All the parties that were involved were compliant and the whole process was smooth and that’s all that I’m going to take away from that.

“In my statement I was very sincere about how I feel about it.”

Lessons

Queried about the lessons he took from failing the drugs test and the scrutiny that followed, Rabada said he was grateful for those around him and their support.

“Like I said, it was about gratitude and as a player and as a man, people will have their different opinions about it and I can live with that,” he said.

“There will be people who will be for you and people who will be against you and I can live with that, that’s fine, but I know that I can still play the game of cricket.

“Nothing changes. I’m going to keep playing for the country, keep doing my best and live with whatever comes my way.

“The world doesn’t revolve around me. There are people out there who are going through a lot worse.”

Kagiso Rabada bats on day three of the Test against West Indies in Centurion on 2 March 2023. (Photo: Lee Warren / Gallo Images)

Rabada added that he would like to move past the ban and focus on the WTC final.

“Certainly, moving into this World Test Championship final, it is about that whole event. It’s not just about me and this incident that has occurred, which is why I think it’s a waste of time talking [any] further about it,” he said.

“Everything was handled very well, in an orderly manner, and we can move on from it.”

Rabada said that while he had regretted his actions and the hurt he caused to those closest to him, he wouldn’t apologise at every turn, but instead continue to live his life.

“I’ve had a lot of support from those who are close to me,” he said. “I don’t go around looking on Twitter (X) to see what everyone is saying.

“Definitely, as you would have seen in my statement, there are some people who I feel would have been disappointed and for those who were, that’s why I said deeply sorry, as my statement said.

“The people who were closest to me, I felt, were the ones who I let down. In saying that, life moves on.

“I’m not going to ‘Mr, I apologise’ about it too much. I don’t think I have to be, but I do not condone that action, I will never condone it, but I’ve moved on.”

Support from the team

Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma and coach Shukri Conrad both came out to bat for Rabada recently. Bavuma said their friendship comes first and Conrad hit back at the Australian critics with a verse from the Bible: “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”

For Rabada, not only was that unsurprising, it is what he expected from his captain and coach.

“I didn’t expect anything else because they’re my teammates,” he said. “I have trust in my teammates. I’ve always had confidence in my teammates.

“We’ve come so far. I knew they’d be supportive and they still are. This was not an ideal situation but they fill in as those members who are close to me and who are supporting me.

“I don’t need too many pats on the back here. I’m going to be joining with them again. I’ve already spoken to them and we can do so in more detail when we get together with each other for an extended amount of time.

“I don’t want this to be about me. This is about something greater than it being about me. It’s about two teams going to play in a world [championship] event.

“There’s going to be good cricket going to be played and I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve done.”

Rabada did, however, say he will address the squad when they assemble on Saturday for the first time in preparation for the WTC final in Arundel.

“I think I owe it to them, 100%,” Rabada said. “They’re my teammates. I definitely owe it to them. We’ve come so far. To my closest people I owe that to them.” DM

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Lessons

Support from the team