South African quick Kagiso Rabada free to return immediately despite ban for drug use
Updated . First published
Superstar South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has been cleared to return to cricket after serving a one-month ban for testing positive to a recreational drug.
Rabada left the Indian Premier League for "personal reasons" but revealed over the weekend he had tested positive and was serving a suspension.
The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids) on Monday night confirmed Rabada had accepted responsibility and only copped a one-month ban, which has now expired.
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He is free to return to the IPL as early as Wednesday and will be available for the World Test Championship final against Australia next month.
"The player accepted responsibility for the doping offence and honoured his provisional suspension," Saids said.
Kagiso Rabada of South Africa. Getty
In a new statement, Rabada said he was "deeply sorry to all those that I have let down".
"I will never take the privilege of playing cricket for granted," he said.
"This privilege is much larger than me. It goes beyond my personal aspirations."
Rabada has taken 327 wickets at an average of 22 from just 70 Tests, while he has amassed a further 168 dismissals in 108 ODIs and 71 in 65 T20 internationals.
