Former Australia captain Tim Paine has criticised the lack of transparency in Kagiso Rabada’s failed drug test, calling for full disclosure from the authorities handling the matter.

Rabada disclosed that he is serving a provisional suspension after testing positive for a banned recreational drug. The South African pacer had left the IPL 2025 last month after playing two games for the Gujarat Titans, citing personal reasons.

“It stinks. I don’t like this use around personal issues, and it being used to hide stuff that isn’t a personal issue,” said Tim Paine.

“If you have a professional sportsman that’s tested for recreational drugs during a tournament in which he is playing, that doesn’t fall under personal issues for me.”

“That falls under you have broken your contract. That is not a personal issue, that is something that is happening in your personal life,” he added.

“Taking drugs – recreational or performance enhancing – is not a personal issue that can just be hidden for a month. A guy can be taken out of the IPL, moved back to South Africa and we just let it slide under the rug. Then we will bring him back once he’s already served his ban,” Paine said.

According to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code, the quantam of punishment for usage of recreational drug could be anything between three months to four years.

With there is no clarity on when the pacer would return to action, it’s been speculated that he may be eligible to represent South Africa at the World Test Championship (WTC) finals against Australia in June.

Kagiso Rabada has been integral part of South Africa set up, having played 241 international games for the side which includes 70 tests.

“Not only will play against Australia in the World Test Championship but he’s available to be playing now in the IPL. No one knew about what he’s taken, what he was given or who the organising body was that oversaw it.”

“If he is going to take drugs and be caught doing it I think people deserve to know what he’s taken, how long he is being rubbed out for and who sanctioned it. People need to be held to account for stuff like that,” Tim Paine added.