NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag was caught vaping in the dressing room during the live telecast of their match against Punjab Kings on Tuesday and visuals of the act have gone viral on social media. It happened during the 16th over of the RR run-chase when Parag was casually vaping in the presence of his teammates Dhruv Jurel and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Smoking is completely prohibited in the locker room and stadium areas, with the exception of designated areas. It was therefore shocking that Parag was allegedly in possession of an e-cigarette/vape – which India has banned under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) 2019. The law banned the manufacture, sale, purchase, import, export and advertisement of e-cigarettes/vapes in India, and violations can lead to imprisonment and heavy fines. TimesofIndia.com has asked BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia for a comment and the story will be updated once he responds. The law raises serious concerns because vaping is not legal or regulated in the country and may require further investigation.“Unlike smoking cigarettes, you don’t know what you’re breathing when it comes to vaping. There’s a reason it’s banned in the country and nobody has a clue about the ingredients that go into it and whether it meets safety guidelines. Especially for an elite athlete. The franchise and the captain will have to have their reasons ready,” a BCCI source says, adding that the industry is unlikely to develop.This is not the first time that RR have found themselves in the middle of a controversy this season; earlier, their manager violated PMOA protocol by accidentally using his phone in the basement. This was also caught during the broadcast and after a thorough investigation BCCI warned and fined Romi Bhinder.
