Riyan Parag was seen inhaling an e-cigarette, also known as vaping, in the dressing room during the live broadcast of their game against Punjab Kings on Tuesday night (April 28). Photo: X screengrab
BCCI fines RR captain Riyan Parag 25 pc of IPL match fee for vaping in dressing room
He was also given a demerit point for bringing the game into disrepute; board considers further 'stringent action' against the erring team
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday (April 30) ended all speculation over Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag getting fined after he was found vaping inside the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise's dressing room during a game against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur on Tuesday (April 28).
The swashbuckling batter was fined 25 per cent of his match fee and also accumulated one demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct for players and team officials.
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Riyan was found to have breached Article 2.21 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which relates to “conduct that brings the game into disrepute”, a release by the BCCI said.
The incident occurred during the second half of the match.
Cricket admits to offence
Riyan admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction imposed by the match referee, Amit Sharma.
The BCCI is also exploring other options to initiate proceedings for stringent action against the erring team, its officials and player/s to ensure that the reputation of IPL remains intact.
Parag's actions during the Royals' chase on Tuesday night drew condemnation on social media.
According to news agency PTI, the match's on-field umpires Tanmay Srivastava and Nitin Menon had not reported the matter to match referee Sharma right after the game. They only did that after seeing visual proof, and Sharma found Parag guilty.
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The Indian government had banned e-cigarettes back in 2019, prohibiting their production, sale and distribution. As per the law, the offender faces imprisonment up to one year and/or a Rs one lakh fine for a first-time offence.
Article 2.21 of IPL Code of Conduct
"Article 2.21 of IPL Code of Conduct is intended to cover all types of conduct that bring the game into disrepute and which is not specifically and adequately covered by the specific offences set out elsewhere in this Code of Conduct, including Article 2.20," the IPL Code of Conduct states.
"By way of example, Article 2.21 may (depending upon the seriousness and context of the breach) prohibit, without limitation, the following: (a) public acts of misconduct; (b) unruly public behaviour; and (c) inappropriate comments which are detrimental to the interests of the game.
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"When assessing the seriousness of the offence, the context of the particular situation, and whether it was deliberate, reckless, negligent, avoidable and/or accidental, shall be considered.
"Further, the person lodging the Report shall determine where on the range of severity the conduct lays (with the range of severity starting at conduct of a minor nature (and hence a Level 1 Offence) up to conduct of an extremely serious nature (and hence a Level 4 Offence)." Since it is a Level 1 offence there was no need for a hearing.
(With agency inputs)