South Africa ka tezz bowler Kagiso Rabada ne apne ek mahine ke suspension ke baare mein baat ki, jo drug test mein fail hone ke wajah se mila tha. Ye baat SA20 tournament mein January 21, 2025 ko hui, jab unka urine test benzoylecgonine, yaani cocaine ka metabolite, positive aaya. Rabada ke lawyers ne prove kiya ke yeh drug competition ke bahar liya gaya tha, toh ban teen mahine se ghat kar ek mahine ka ho gaya, kyunki unhone substance abuse treatment program pura kiya.
Maafi aur Zimmedari
May 3, 2025 ko Rabada ne ek statement mein kaha ke unhe apne fans, teammates, aur apno ko disappoint karne ka bohot dukh hai. “Main dil se maafi mangta hoon jinhone mujhe let down feel kiya. Cricket mere liye ek bada privilege hai,” unhone kaha, aur yeh bhi kaha ke cricket unke personal ambitions se bada hai. Lekin May 31, 2025 ko, London jaate waqt World Test Championship (WTC) final ke liye, unhone media se kaha, “Main ‘Mr-I-Apologise’ zyada nahi banunga. Lekin main uss action ko kabhi support nahi karunga.” Isse pata chalta hai ke woh apni galti maante hain, lekin ab aage badhna chahte hain.
Rabada ne apni South Africa team ke saath is baare mein khul kar baat ki. “Mujhe lagta hai main unhe batana zaroori hai – woh mere teammates hain,” unhone kaha, aur agar zarurat padi toh aur details dene ko ready hain. Yeh dikhata hai ke woh team mein trust banaye rakhna chahte hain, khaas kar jab team WTC final ke liye Australia ke khilaf khelne wali hai.
Suspension ka Background
Drug test positive aaya tha MI Cape Town aur Durban’s Super Giants ke match ke baad SA20 mein. South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS), jo World Anti-Doping Agency ka part hai, ne cocaine detect kiya, jo unke “substances of abuse” list mein hai, saath mein cannabis, heroin, aur ecstasy ke. Out-of-competition use prove hone aur treatment program pura karne ke wajah se Rabada ka ban ek mahine ka raha.
Rabada ne IPL 2025 mein March mein “personal reasons” ke wajah se break liya, jo baad mein doping violation ke wajah se controversy bana. Australia ke ex-captain Tim Paine ne ispe transparency ki kami ka taunt maara, lekin South African Cricketers’ Association ke CEO Andrew Breetzke ne kaha ke sab protocols professionally follow kiye gaye. Rabada ne ban ke baad Gujarat Titans ke liye do aur IPL matches khele.
Aage ka Plan aur Team Support
Cricket South Africa (CSA) aur team ne Rabada ka full support kiya. CSA ke CEO Pholetsi Moseki ne kaha ke Rabada ko “galti ke liye saza nahi deni chahiye,” aur unka well-being pe focus kiya. Gujarat Titans ke director Vikram Solanki ne bhi Rabada ki professionalism ki taareef ki aur kaha ke sab procedures theek se follow hue. Ab Rabada WTC final ke liye 15-member squad mein hai, jisme Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, aur Wiaan Mulder jaise bowlers hain. Rabada pace attack lead karenge.
Challenges Ahead
WTC final mein Rabada ko opponents, media, aur fans ke taunts ka saamna karna pad sakta hai. Unhe public ka trust bhi wapas jeetna hai. Rabada ne kaha ke unke kareebi fans ka disappointment unhe dukh deta hai, lekin “life moves on,” aur woh apne game pe focus karenge. Unke mental health pe bhi sawal uth rahe hain, kyunki one-time drug use detect hona rare hota hai. CSA aur captain Temba Bavuma, jo unke dost hain, unke well-being ka khayal rakh rahe hain.
Bada Impact
Rabada ke case ne sports mein recreational drug use pe debate chhed diya. Tim Paine jaise log transparency maangte hain, jabki doosre is process ko fair kehte hain. Cocaine ka stigma marijuana se zyada bada hai, jo is baat ko aur complicated karta hai. Rabada ka case dikhata hai ke doping rules mein out-of-competition use ke liye lighter penalties ho sakti hain, agar rehab kiya jaye.
Rabada ka response galti maanne aur aage badhne ka mix hai. Woh maafi mangte hain, lekin yeh incident unki career define nahi karega. CSA, teammates, aur IPL team ke support ke saath, Rabada WTC final mein Australia ke khilaf apna best dikhane ko ready hain. Yeh incident elite athletes ke field aur zindagi ke pressures ko highlight karta hai.
