Latest news with #Saids
SowetanLIVE
04-06-2025
- Health
- SowetanLIVE
Proteas star Rabada tested positive for cocaine, says Saids testing agency
Kagiso Rabada's month-long suspension after he failed a drug test was because the fast bowler tested positive for cocaine, the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids) said. Rabada, who was with the Gujarat Titans when he returned home from the Indian Premier League in April, admitted failing a drug test and apologised for his actions. The 30-year-old, ranked No 2 in the Test bowler rankings, said he had returned an adverse analytical finding for the use of a recreational drug. Rabada had been tested in January when he was playing in the SA20 for MI Cape Town and Saids said in a report published this week that it detected the presence of Benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine. Rabada returned from his suspension to play two matches for Gujarat, who finished third in the standings. He is due to spearhead South Africa's bowling attack in the World Test Championship final at Lord's when they face Australia from June 11 to 15. Reuters
TimesLIVE
04-06-2025
- Health
- TimesLIVE
Proteas star Rabada tested positive for cocaine, says Saids testing agency
Kagiso Rabada's month-long suspension after he failed a drug test was because the fast bowler tested positive for cocaine, the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids) said. Rabada, who was with the Gujarat Titans when he returned home from the Indian Premier League in April, admitted failing a drug test and apologised for his actions. The 30-year-old, ranked No 2 in the Test bowler rankings, said he had returned an adverse analytical finding for the use of a recreational drug. Rabada had been tested in January when he was playing in the SA20 for MI Cape Town and Saids said in a report published this week that it detected the presence of Benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine. Rabada returned from his suspension to play two matches for Gujarat, who finished third in the standings. He is due to spearhead South Africa's bowling attack in the World Test Championship final at Lord's when they face Australia from June 11 to 15.
Daily Maverick
04-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Maverick
From ban to battle: Kagiso Rabada set for World Test Championship showdown at Lord's
'They come at you and I think that gets the best out of me,' Rabada said about the expected verbal battle against Australia. South Africa's leading pace bowler, Kagiso Rabada, is expecting a verbal jousting as the team prepares for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at Lord's in England next week. The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids) confirmed on their website that the fast bowler had metabolite of Cocaine in his system after he was tested during the SA20 tournament in February. Rabada sat through a month-long ban in April — which was brought down from the stipulated three months, after completing Saids' substance abuse treatment programme. 'Any type of verbal abuse, or the media wanting to say something is normal. That's the field that we play in,' Rabada said. 'You can't be ignorant of it, you have to be aware of it, but it's not anything that's going to slow me down.' South Africa will look to Rabada to set the tone with the ball in the final as the leading wicket-taker in the side, and the fifth highest overall for South Africa. Rabada is expecting opponents Australia to have a go at him too, but it's something he's embracing, acknowledging that being riled up often extracts his best performances. 'They come at you, and I think that gets the best out of me,' he said. 'They've been notorious for that over the years.' Home of Cricket Keshav Maharaj and Rabada are the only two members of South Africa's WTC squad to have played more than one Test match at the ground widely referred to as 'the Home of Cricket'. Rabada has fond memories of his second occasion there too, picking up a player-of-the-match award and having his name on the famous honours board after collecting five wickets for 52 runs in the first innings of South Africa's innings-and-12-run defeat of England in 2022. 'Lord's is a special ground and I'm glad to be on the honours board there and to be there along with some great company, and hopefully I can be on there again, that would be great,' he said. 'But if I don't get on it and we win, I'd rather take that.' The surface at the ground is likely to aid Maharaj's left-arm orthodox, according to Rabada. 'You have an idea of what Lord's will play like, but you just never know,' he said. 'Lord's can move around on the first day and then it sort of gets a bit placid, it gets nice to bat on. 'But there's always something there. Right now, it's kind of dry in England. It hasn't rained so the square is probably going to dry out a bit, so it might take some spin. 'Lord's normally takes some spin. It's about understanding what sort of climate you're going to get and then bowling according to what game-plan you want to adapt to, depending on if it's going to nip around a bit or stay low a bit. 'Generally, as the game goes on at Lord's it normally gets a bit lower, so let's see.' Another element to adjust to at the venue in London, outside of the occasion, is the idiosyncrasies of the square. The square has a 2.5-metre slope that takes adjusting to for bowlers. Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen — who are in South Africa's WTC squad — also played in the match in 2022, so would have experienced the slope before. Dane Paterson, who plays for Middlesex, whose home ground is Lord's, would also be well adjusted. 'It's pretty interesting but it's just about trying to hit the top of off stump, whether you're bowling up the slope or down the slope,' Rabada said. 'People overthink the slope.' On-field focus While Rabada has shifted his focus firmly onto what needs to happen on the field, he has played very little cricket since returning from his ban — only playing two matches for the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League. He went at over 10 runs to the over on both occasions. But how does the bowler feel heading into the biggest red-ball match of his career? 'I feel good, I'm ready. I'm not focused on the result, I'm focused on playing. 'My body feels good, my mind feels good. I'm ready to play. I'm excited to see what Australia can bring to us.' DM
Daily Maverick
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
‘People will have their different opinions' — Rabada focused on WTC after drugs ban
'I'm going to keep playing for the country, keep doing my best and live with whatever comes my way,' Kagiso Rabada said in his first press conference since the substance abuse ban. Proteas pace ace Kagiso Rabada has faced the media for the first time since his one-month substance abuse ban in April. Rabada was initially handed a three-month ban by the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids) after a random drugs test on 21 January found 'substances of abuse' in his system. These are categorised as either cocaine, heroin, MDMA/ecstasy or THC by Saids. The fast-bowler, the fifth-highest Test wicket taker in South Africa's history, is gearing up for the World Test Championship (WTC) final from 11 June against Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground in England. Rabada was initially reluctant to answer any questions when probed about the circumstances that got him into the position of consuming one of the aforementioned drugs, instead pointing to the statement he put out after his ban came to light. 'The thing about that incident is… I've put it down in my statement,' he said. 'I didn't take 30 seconds to write it down. Everything is there. I don't think there's any more to speak of that. 'If I had to elaborate a bit more and move away from it and see how it influenced me, it led me to a bit of introspection about myself. I took some time away from the game. 'The biggest thing I took from it is having gratitude for playing the game that we love and I'm just glad to be playing again. 'I'd like to thank, again, Saca (South African Cricketers' Association), they were phenomenal in this, and Cricket South Africa. 'The process was handled really well. Andrew Breetzke (CEO at Saca) led it very well and the decision to come back early was brilliant. 'That's a decision that I made. I could have tried to contest it and whatnot, but coming home was the best option and I was in good hands. 'All the parties that were involved were compliant and the whole process was smooth and that's all that I'm going to take away from that. 'In my statement I was very sincere about how I feel about it.' Lessons Queried about the lessons he took from failing the drugs test and the scrutiny that followed, Rabada said he was grateful for those around him and their support. 'Like I said, it was about gratitude and as a player and as a man, people will have their different opinions about it and I can live with that,' he said. 'There will be people who will be for you and people who will be against you and I can live with that, that's fine, but I know that I can still play the game of cricket. 'Nothing changes. I'm going to keep playing for the country, keep doing my best and live with whatever comes my way. 'The world doesn't revolve around me. There are people out there who are going through a lot worse.' Rabada added that he would like to move past the ban and focus on the WTC final. 'Certainly, moving into this World Test Championship final, it is about that whole event. It's not just about me and this incident that has occurred, which is why I think it's a waste of time talking [any] further about it,' he said. 'Everything was handled very well, in an orderly manner, and we can move on from it.' Rabada said that while he had regretted his actions and the hurt he caused to those closest to him, he wouldn't apologise at every turn, but instead continue to live his life. 'I've had a lot of support from those who are close to me,' he said. 'I don't go around looking on Twitter (X) to see what everyone is saying. 'Definitely, as you would have seen in my statement, there are some people who I feel would have been disappointed and for those who were, that's why I said deeply sorry, as my statement said. 'The people who were closest to me, I felt, were the ones who I let down. In saying that, life moves on. 'I'm not going to '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 it, but I've moved on.' Support from the team Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma and coach Shukri Conrad both came out to bat for Rabada recently. Bavuma said their friendship comes first and Conrad hit back at the Australian critics with a verse from the Bible: 'Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.' For Rabada, not only was that unsurprising, it is what he expected from his captain and coach. 'I didn't expect anything else because they're my teammates,' he said. 'I have trust in my teammates. I've always had confidence in my teammates. 'We've come so far. I knew they'd be supportive and they still are. This was not an ideal situation but they fill in as those members who are close to me and who are supporting me. 'I don't need too many pats on the back here. I'm going to be joining with them again. I've already spoken to them and we can do so in more detail when we get together with each other for an extended amount of time. 'I don't want this to be about me. This is about something greater than it being about me. It's about two teams going to play in a world [championship] event. 'There's going to be good cricket going to be played and I'm just going to keep doing what I've done.' Rabada did, however, say he will address the squad when they assemble on Saturday for the first time in preparation for the WTC final in Arundel. 'I think I owe it to them, 100%,' Rabada said. 'They're my teammates. I definitely owe it to them. We've come so far. To my closest people I owe that to them.' DM
Daily Express
31-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Challenges Sabah's interior designers face: New head
Published on: Friday, May 30, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 30, 2025 By: Mohd Izham Bin Hashim Text Size: Dr Wilson (7th from right) and the new Saids chairman, Ashley (6th from right), with the incoming committee for the 2025-2027 term. Kota Kinabalu: Supply chain and logistical issues pose significant challenges for interior designers in Sabah, hindering their ability to meet the ever-growing demands of clients in the state. Ashley Yeoh, the new Chairman of the Sabah Interior Designers Society (Saids), emphasized that modern customers are becoming more tech-savvy and inquisitive. This shift is prompting designers to adapt to a rapidly changing landscape, where client expectations often surpass the capabilities of local infrastructure. 'Today's consumers are more informed, with access to global trends and designs through platforms like TikTok. Unfortunately, the local supply chain struggles to keep up with these advancements,' Ashley said. As designers increasingly rely on external suppliers to meet the rising demand for innovative solutions, they face delays and heightened costs. The growing gap between supply and demand is making it increasingly difficult for designers to deliver work of the highest quality. The sophistication of clients—coupled with their willingness to question designers on materials, features, and the integration of technology—places additional pressure on the design process. Advertisement Beyond logistical challenges, Ashley highlighted the increasing role of technology in shaping the future of interior design. 'Technology is no longer just a trend; it's becoming a cornerstone of modern living. From smart home solutions to AI-driven designs, designers must adapt to these new realities,' she said at Saids Appreciation Event and the Installation Ceremony of the new committee for the term 2025-2027. The event was graced by Saids founder, Prof Dato' Seri Dr Wilson Yong, who was the Guest-of -Honour. In his keynote address, Dr Wilson underscored that the Society's strength lies in its ability to bring together diverse perspectives and ideas. 'Saids was established to foster collaboration. By integrating diverse viewpoints, we can innovate and create truly unique designs that bring a lasting and positive impact,' he stated. Dr Wilson also pointed to Sabah's rich cultural heritage as a vital source of inspiration for local designers. 'Our heritage is our strength. We aim to showcase Sabah's unique story through our designs, blending traditional elements with modern aesthetics,' he said. Moving ahead, Dr Wilson emphasized the need for a focus on quality and innovation, with an eye on sustainability and the future. He encouraged the new Saids committee to prioritize understanding the needs of the design community, building connections, and collaborating to elevate the sector to new heights. Ashley expanded on this vision, noting that designers who embrace cutting-edge technologies such as 3D rendering, virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI) will gain a competitive advantage—much like the edge that designers who adopted computer-aided design (CAD) gained decades ago. However, aside from technological challenges, Ashley also addressed the ongoing issue of the undervaluation of interior designers in Kota Kinabalu. 'Interior designers need to stand firm on their worth,' she emphasized, stressing the importance of educating younger members and the public on the expertise and professionalism that interior designers bring to the table. In response to these challenges, Ashley outlined several initiatives aimed at educating clients and training new designers. Through programmes like Saids Dialogue, Saids Connect, and Saids Inspirations, the Society is working to provide valuable learning opportunities and foster industry connections. Workshops focused on continuous professional development are also in the pipeline. 'By uniting the industry and working closely with suppliers, we can gradually overcome these challenges and build a stronger foundation for the future,' Ashley concluded. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
