KAGISO RABADA has revealed he is serving a provisional SUSPENSION after testing positive for a recreational drug.
The South African fast bowler is the second-best ranked in the International Cricket Council Test rankings.
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Rabada, 29, returned home after playing just twice with the Gujarat Titans in the IPL last month.
At the time the team announced that he had left in order to tend to an “important personal matter”.
However, the bowler has now disclosed that this was due to the finding of a recreational substance in a drug test.
Rabada has admitted his profound regret for his actions and is already hoping to draw a line under the incident.
It is unclear whether he will be able to resume his career which would put a question mark over his involvement for South Africa.
He would have been expected to lead the bowling attack against the Australians at the World Test Championship final next month at Lord’s.
Rabada released a statement apologising through the South African Cricketers’ Association.
It read: “I am deeply sorry to all those that I have let down.
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“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.
“I couldn’t have gone through this alone. I’d like to thank my agent, Cricket South Africa (CSA) and Gujarat Titans for their support.
“I’d also like to thank SACA and my legal team for their guidance and counsel.
“Most importantly, I’d like to thank my friends and family for their understanding and love.
“Moving forward, this moment will not define me. I will keep doing what I have always done, continuously working hard and playing with passion and devotion to my craft.”
Rabada underlined his status as South Africa’s pace spearhead and one of the world’s finest bowlers when he became the quickest to reach 300 Test wickets in terms of balls bowled in October last year.
He briefly shot back up to the top of the ICC’s Test bowling standings, having first gone to the summit in January 2018, but he has since been leapfrogged by India’s Jasprit Bumrah.
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.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirmed in a statement that Rabada had “returned an adverse analytical finding for the use of a prohibited substance.
“The incident is regrettable, however, Rabada has reassured CSA and his fans of his commitment to upholding professional standards and has restated his passion to the sport of cricket and the country he represents with purpose.
“CSA is fully committed to drug-free sport and reminds cricket players, both professional and amateur, of the importance of adhering to all regulations.
“We are steadfast in our support to all players in this regard.”