Days after shocking news of Kagiso Rabada was banned from the sport amid his elongated absence from the Gujarat Titans' (GT) camp in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), it has now emerged that Rabada is eligible to play the sport again and can take the field for the Shubman Gill-led side in their all-important clash against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Tuesday (May 6) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

More details have emerged on Rabada's case, and it was revealed by the South African Institute of Drug-Free Sport (SAIDFS) that Rabada was tested on 21st January following a SA20 match between MI Cape Town and Pretoria Capitals. The results came on April 1 after which Rabada returned to South Africa and served a one-month suspension.

It is worth noting that Rabada was found guilty of using a recreational drug and not a performance-enhancing drug. The star pacer participated in an educational awareness program on substance abuse.

"Mr. Rabada tested positive for a Substance of Abuse1 and was subsequently notified of the allegation of his doping offence on the 1st April 2025. A provisional suspension was imposed and Mr. Rabada returned immediately to South Africa from India.

"The Player accepted responsibility for the doping offence and honoured his provisional suspension. As per the South African Anti-Doping Rules specifically pertaining to a Substances of Abuse, the Player was offered an opportunity to complete a substance abuse treatment program. After Mr. Rabada satisfactorily completed two sessions of his treatment program, his provisional suspension ended2. The Player has effectively served one (1) month period of ineligibility and may now resume participation in sport," the statement from the SAIDFS stated.

The codes under which Rabada was suspended (Article 42.2.3) deal with substances like cocaine, heroin, MMDA, and THC.

Rabada's return to action comes as a source of relief for the South African cricket team, who are set to play Australia in the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final next month. Among the finest pacers of the current generation, Rabada's participation in the summit clash at Lord's, set to begin on June 11 was put in major doubt after news over his ban became public.

The star pacer played two matches for the Titans and took two wickets before the suspension. Ahead of GT's third game of the season against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the franchise's captain Gill stated at the toss that he was absent due to personal reasons.

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