Recreational drugs refers to chemical substances taken for enjoyment rather than for medical reasons. Alcohol, tobacco and caffeine can be classified as recreational drugs. Recreational drugs are usually started to provide pleasure or to improve life in some way. However, they can lead to addiction, health and social problems and to crime. Most are illegal, so their use comes with all the consequences of breaking the law.
Despite the dangers, athletes still tend to use these types of drugs. This might take place before, during or after a competition has been concluded. As stated above, it's against the law and WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) is hard on these drugs as well.
Lately, South African cricket player, Kagiso 'KG' Rabada, has been in the headlines for the reasoning for his absence in the IPL.
When the Proteas’ premier vinnige bowler Kagiso Rabada returned home early due to personal reasons from the IPL last month, not much was read into his homecoming.
However, in a statement released by the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) on Saturday, it was revealed that there was more to the 29-year-old’s early return from the IPL than the country thought.
The SACA statement highlighted that the fast bowler returned after testing positive for a banned substance and Rabada confirmed on Saturday that the substance taken was a, "recreational drug."
Rabada said in the statement: "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."
"I couldn’t have gone through this alone. I’d like to thank my agent, CSA [Cricket SA] and the Gujarat Titans for their support. I’d also like to thank SACA and my legal team for their guidance and counsel…."
Kagiso Rabada is free to take to the cricket field again, having served a short ban after testing positive for the use of a recreational drug. This means that the South African bowling kingpin will be available to play in the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s in England next month.
The substance was found in Rabada’s system during the SA20, on 21 January this year, after the rained-out match between Rabada’s MI Cape Town and Durban’s Super Giants at Kingsmead, according to a statement put out by the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) on Monday. SAIDS conducted the test.
Rabada was randomly selected to undergo the test, as is routine. After being made aware of the finding, Rabada accepted the outcome and didn't request a B-sample.
"Mr. Rabada tested positive for a Substance of Abuse and was subsequently notified of the allegation of his doping offence on 1 April 2025," SAIDS' statement read. "A provisional suspension was imposed and Mr. Rabada returned immediately to South Africa from India."
SAIDS classifies the following as, "substances of abuse": cocaine; heroin; MDMA/ecstasy and THC. Rabada’s suspension began when he was notified on 1 April of his positive test result.
Following the SA20, which Rabada’s MI Cape Town won, the fast bowler represented South Africa in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates and then ran out for the Gujarat Titans in two matches – on 25 and 29 March – in the Indian Premier League (IPL) before returning to South Africa.
Rabada’s suspension was further reduced from three months to one because he completed SAIDS’ substance abuse treatment programme.
"After Mr. Rabada satisfactorily completed two sessions of his treatment programme, his provisional suspension ended," the statement read. "The player has effectively served one (1) month period of ineligibility and may now resume participation in sport."
CSA made the following statement:
Rabada has returned an adverse analytical finding for the use of a prohibited substance.
"The incident is regrettable, however, Rabada has reassured CSA and his fans of his commitment to upholding professional standards and has restated his passion to the sport of cricket and the country he represents with purpose."
"CSA is fully committed to drug-free sport and reminds cricket players, both professional and amateur, of the importance of adhering to all regulations. We are steadfast in our support to all players in this regard."
However, the organisation’s CEO, Khalid Galant, has now said that there is a 30-day period provisioned for any appeals to the sanction that has been handed down, effectively meaning Rabada may yet find himself being iced out for more than just a month.
"The case is considered closed, however, there is a 30-day period for appeals. The people who have the right to appeal would be the International Cricket Council [ICC] and the World Anti-Doping Agency. If they choose to exercise the right to appeal the sanction or decision that SAIDS handed down, they will have 30 days from when it was rendered," revealed Galant.
He went on to say that illicit or recreational drugs are classified differently and banned in competition, while performance-enhancing drugs are banned both in and out of competition. He explained why this is the case.
“The rationale behind illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana and ecstasy being banned in sport is that it is considered against the spirit of sport and especially with well-known athletes, in terms of character, education and excellence in performance. It is deemed that these drugs that fall under substance abuse are harmful to the spirit of sport and obviously a danger to the athletes’ health."
Former Australia captain, Tim Paine, has publicly questioned the late disclosure of Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada’s suspension. Rabada left the Gujarat Titans’ Indian Premier League campaign in March 2025 due to a, "personal matter" and, last week, revealed a suspension for, "the use of a recreational drug" earlier this year.
"It stinks. I don’t like this use around personal issues, and it being used to hide stuff that is not a personal issue," Paine told SEN Radio.
"If you have a professional sportsman that’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 have broken your contract. That is not a personal issue, that is something that is happening in your personal life."
Paine and Rabada’s international careers coincided for seven years from 2014 to 2021. "Not only will he play against Australia in the World Test Championship but he’s available to be playing now in the IPL. Nobody knew about what he’s taken, what he was given or who the organising body was that oversaw it," concluded Paine.
"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 the suspension. People need to be held to account for stuff like that."
"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 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,” added Paine.
I must admit, I'm on the fence on this matter. Every athlete should be well aware of what they can and can't take. Rabada should've known better. You can't take something and expect it to not get noticed and identified.
I have to agree with Tim Paine's criticism. To me, personal reasons refer to family emergencies. Drug use doesn't fall under this category. In these instances, athletes should be upfront with this. They shouldn't hide behind another reasoning. Being honest should come first.
I'm happy that he's now allowed to play. He's a very important part of the Proteas' set-up. This is especially true when South Africa take on Australia next month. If he's not playing, it could be said that South Africa are missing a vital piece of the team.