Kagiso Rabada mans up in first media appearance since failed drug test

Rabada tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, after the SA20 match between MI Cape Town and Durban Super Giants, and had to man up and speak to the media for the first time since the incident as the team prepared to depart for London for the big match.

Rabada says he regrets the incident, and apologised for it.

"There are some people who I feel would have been I guess disappointed and those who were, I'd like to say I'm deeply sorry, as my statement said. The people who were closest to me were the ones whom I felt like I let down,” Rabada said.

“In saying that, life moves on, I'm not gonna be 'Mr I apologise' about it too much. I don't think I have to be but I do not condone that action. I will never condone that action."

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Rabada returned home from the IPL at the beginning of April to deal with what was only known as “personal reasons” at the time, and says the decision was the best in the situation.

He says he also had time to step back and just appreciate how privileged he is to be in the position he’s in, and that gave him a new perspective on matters.

"You know, [it] led me to a bit of introspection about myself, [I] took some time away from the game and I think the biggest thing I took from it was having gratitude for playing the game that we love and I'm just glad to be back playing again,” he added.

“I'd like to thank again SACA, I think SACA were phenomenal in this, Cricket South Africa, the process was handled really well. The decision to come back early was brilliant."