 "Tim Paine has slammed the secrecy behind Kagiso Rabada's drug case. Image: Reuters")
Former Australian cricket captain Tim Paine has strongly criticised the way Kagiso Rabada’s drug suspension has been handled, saying fans and fellow players deserve to know the full truth.
Rabada, one of South Africa’s top fast bowlers, recently confirmed he is serving a provisional suspension after testing positive for a recreational drug. He had earlier left IPL 2025 citing “personal reasons”, but later revealed the real reason was a failed drug test.
While Rabada admitted his mistake and apologised publicly, Tim Paine believes the matter was kept too quiet. Speaking on SEN Radio, Paine said, “It stinks. I don’t like this use around personal issues, and it 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 have 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,” Paine said.
Rabada, who is playing for the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025 , had played just two matches before leaving the team in early April. He recently rejoined the camp but hasn’t yet played another game. It’s still unclear when he will return to action. The positive drug test was reportedly recorded during the SAT20 league in January.
Paine wants more transparency
Tim Paine said it’s unfair that everything was kept under wraps for weeks, and now Rabada might return to competitive cricket without any clarity to the public. Rabada is expected to play for GT in their next match.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“Not only will play against Australia in the World Test Championship but he’s available to be playing now in the IPL. No one knew about what he’s taken, what he was given or who the organising body was that oversaw it,” Paine said.
“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. People need to be held to account for stuff like that,” he added.
Rabada is a key player for South Africa and has played 241 international matches, including 70 Tests. There are speculations that he may still be available for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia in June.