Exclusive: Khalid Galant CEO of SAIDS Lifts the Lid on Kagiso Rabada’s Suspension

On Saturday, South Africa and the cricket world at large were rocked with a statement from the South African Cricketers' Association in which Kagiso Rabada admitted to having tested positive for a recreational drug.

Rabada had left the Indian Premier League early last month, citing 'personal reasons', all to find out the reason behind his early departure was a provisional one-month suspension imposed by the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sports (SAIDS). 

"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," the statement read.

"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."

When and how was Rabada tested?

Khalid Galant, the SAIDS Chief Executive Officer, told SportsBoom.co.za in an exclusive interview that Rabada was tested during the SA20 fixture between MI Cape Town and the Durban Super Giants earlier this year.

"The SA20 is the professional franchise competition in South African cricket that is regularly tested in terms of our testing calendar. The match where Mr Rabada was tested was the match between the Cape Town franchise and the Durban franchise. He was tested after the match, he provided the sample, and that sample tested positive for substance of abuse," Galant told SportsBoom.co.za.

"We did about 16 tests throughout the SA20 competition. So he wasn't the only player tested. In South Africa, in terms of this substance, I think we haven't had a positive in cricket in a few years. Internationally, it may be different. In the last two or three years, we haven't had a high number of positive cases in cricket."

What substance was it exactly?

Mr Galant emphasised that currently, only Rabada could disclose the substance which was found in his system. Galant added that they could only disclose after an peal period had lapsed.

"Mr Rabada can disclose the substance. It is best to ask him. We are only able to disclose the substance after the appeal period has lapsed, which is 30 days from when the decision was rendered. In terms of the substance of abuse, there are four substances that fall into this category. It's cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and marijuana," said Galant.

Did Rabada get a slap on the wrist?

There have been a number of important figures in sport who have voiced out their frustration over the length of the ban that Rabada received.

However, Galant emphasised that they only followed the protocols as per the World Anti-Doping Code.

"The World Anti-Doping Code, from which the South African Anti-Doping Rules are an iteration, a national version of it, sets out the framework for sanctions and how we should treat the sanction with an athlete who tests positive in the category of a substance of abuse," said Galant. 

"So, generally, the sanction can be anywhere from a warning, three months to two years. It all depends on the nature of the case and the concentration and whether the athlete can prove that he took the substance out of competition, but he tested positive, he still had remnants of it or metabolites of the substance during the competition test."

Was the drug really used for recreational purposes?

Galant highlighted that Rabada was able to prove that the drug was used for recreational purposes and not to enhance his performances.

"Both SAIDS and Mr. Rabada had a pharmacological expert to review the concentration and the timeline based on the affidavit provided by Rabada, and supported the data and the analysis supported his position that the substance was consumed out of competition."

Rabada has returned to India to complete the Indian Premier League with his team, the Gujarat Titans, as his suspension has ended and he is now cleared to play. 

The 29-year-old will also play for South Africa in the upcoming World Test Championship final at Lord's next month.