Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has been fined for violating the IPL's Code of Conduct.
How did Riyan Parag violate the IPL's Code of Conduct?
During Rajasthan's match against Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh on Tuesday (April 28), Parag, who had been dismissed in the second innings, was spotted on the match broadcast with a device near his mouth that appeared to be a vape, or e-cigarette. Footage of the incident quickly went viral on social media.
The use of vapes in India is prohibited under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act of 2019, which prohibits "the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of electronic cigarettes in the interest of public health to protect the people from harm and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto."
Amid speculation that there could be punishment for Parag beyond the scope of the IPL or BCCI, an unnamed BCCI official told the Indian Express that they would "seek an explanation" for the incident.
On Thursday (April 30), the IPL issued a statement confirming that Parag had been fined 25 per cent of his match fee, and earned one demerit point for a Level One breach of Article 2.21 of the league's Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials.
The article states, "Article 2.21 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 (conduct contrary to the spirit of the game).
"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."
The IPL's statement added, "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," suggesting that a team-level punishment could also be on the way.
Earlier this season, Rajasthan Royals team manager Romi Bhinder was seen using his phone in the team dugout, in breach of the Players and Match Officials (PMOA) protocols. He was fined and given a formal warning for the same.
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