The so-called \rho\pi puzzle of J\psi and \psi(2S) decays is examined using
the experimental data available to date. Two different approaches were taken to
estimate the ratio of J\psi and \psi(2S) hadronic decay rates. While one of the
estimates could not yield the exact ratio of \psi(2S) to J\psi inclusive
hadronic decay rates, the other, based on a computation of the inclusive ggg
decay rate for
\psi(2S) (J\psi) by subtracting other decay rates from the total decay rate,
differs by two standard deviations from the naive prediction of perturbative
QCD, even though its central value is nearly twice as large as what was naively
expected. A comparison between this ratio, upon making corrections for specific
exclusive two-body decay modes, and the corresponding experimental data
confirms the puzzles in
J\psi and \psi(2S) decays. We find from our analysis that the exclusively
reconstructed hadronic decays of the \psi(2S) account for only a small fraction
of its total decays, and a ratio exceeding the above estimate should be
expected to occur for a considerable number of the remaining decay channels. We
also show that the recent new results from the BES experiment provide crucial
tests of various theoretical models proposed to explain the puzzle.Comment: 8 pages, no figure, 4 table