Riyan Parag Faces Fine for Vaping Incident During IPL Match: What You Need to Know

Riyan Parag's Controversial Vaping Incident

New Delhi: Riyan Parag, the captain of Rajasthan Royals, is facing a penalty of 25% of his match fee after being caught vaping during the IPL match against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur. This incident has sparked outrage on social media.

Reports indicate that the on-field umpires, Tanmay Srivastava and Nitin Menon, did not immediately inform match referee Amit Sharma about the incident. It was only after reviewing video evidence that Sharma deemed Parag guilty of violating the IPL's code of conduct.

According to IPL regulations, a Level 1 offence results in a 25% deduction from match fees and incurs one demerit point.

"He will be fined a portion of his match fees and receive a demerit point for this Level 1 offence," stated a source from the IPL.

In 2019, the Indian government prohibited e-cigarettes, banning their production, sale, and distribution. Violators can face up to one year in prison and/or a fine of ₹1 lakh for a first-time offence.

The IPL Code of Conduct, specifically Article 2.21, addresses conduct that brings the game into disrepute, covering various forms of misconduct not explicitly mentioned in other articles.

The seriousness of the offence is assessed based on the context and whether the action was intentional, reckless, negligent, or accidental.

As this is classified as a Level 1 offence, no formal 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 criticized the act as careless, especially in an era dominated by social media and constant camera surveillance.

The Royals are set to face Delhi Capitals at home on Friday night.