Riyan Parag Fined for Vaping Incident During IPL Match
Riyan Parag's Disreputable Act
On Thursday, Riyan Parag, the captain of Rajasthan Royals, faced a penalty of 25% of his match fee for bringing the sport into "disrepute" after being filmed vaping during the IPL match against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur.
His actions during the Royals' chase on Tuesday night sparked backlash on social media platforms.
Sources indicate that the on-field umpires, Tanmay Srivastava and Nitin Menon, did not report the incident to match referee Amit Sharma immediately after the game. They only did so after reviewing visual evidence, leading Sharma to find Parag guilty of violating the IPL's code of conduct.
This Level 1 offence results in a 25% deduction from match fees and incurs one demerit point.
"Riyan acknowledged the violation and accepted the penalty imposed by Match Referee Amit Sharma," stated the IPL in an official announcement.
"The BCCI is also considering further actions against the team, its officials, and players to maintain the integrity of the IPL," the statement continued.
When approached for comments on potential actions against Rajasthan Royals, BCCI secretary Devajit Saika remarked, "As mentioned in the statement, we are evaluating what steps to take regarding the team. No decisions have been made yet."
In 2019, the Indian government prohibited e-cigarettes, banning their production, sale, and distribution. Offenders may face up to one year in prison and/or a fine of ₹1 lakh for a first-time violation.
"Article 2.21 of the IPL Code of Conduct addresses all conduct that may bring the game into disrepute, which is not adequately covered by other specific offences in the Code, including Article 2.20," the IPL Code of Conduct specifies.
"Examples of conduct that may be prohibited under Article 2.21 include public misconduct, unruly behavior, and inappropriate remarks detrimental to the sport's interests.
When evaluating the seriousness of the offence, factors such as the context, intent, recklessness, negligence, and whether the act was avoidable or accidental will be taken into account.
The individual filing the report will determine the severity of the conduct, ranging from minor (Level 1 Offence) to extremely serious (Level 4 Offence)."
Since this was classified as a Level 1 offence, no hearing was necessary.
Parag, who has struggled with his batting performance this IPL season, was seen using an e-cigarette in the dressing room during a live broadcast of the match against Punjab Kings, which the Royals won, ending the Kings' unbeaten streak.
This incident is not the first controversy for the Royals this season; earlier, team manager Romi Bhinder was fined ₹1 lakh for violating PMOA protocol by using his phone in the dugout.
Officials from the IPL and BCCI described the incident as a careless mistake in an era dominated by social media and constant camera scrutiny. The Royals are set to face Delhi Capitals next in Jaipur on Friday night.