Pushtoday
MuscleChemistry Registered Member
By Harry Fletcher
The Electronic Sports League (ESL) professional gaming organization has announced it's taking a tighter stance on drug control.
Gamers competing in eSports events will now have to avoid a list of banned substances compiled by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Banned substances include marijuana, anabolic steroids and growth hormones.
The ESL will check contestants at random using saliva tests, making exceptions for certain prescription medications.
A Reddit post from the ESL earlier this week confirmed the news, stating: "Our main goal is and always will be to maintain the fair play spirit and the integrity of our competitions.
"We're confident that the anti-doping policy is an important improvement that will help us advance as a sport."
The post continued: "It is a small, but in our eyes essential and meaningful step forward for professional gamers across all games, ESL as an event organizer, and the esports industry as a whole.
"There were a lot of questions left unanswered since the first announcement, and today we're ready to share more information with you."
It was revealed last month that eSports organisers were looking at ways to tackle doping in competitive gaming after professional gamer Kory Friesen said he used Adderall - a drug that improves reaction times - during an eSports tournament.
Now competitors will be required to provide proof "that they need this specific medication" before the start of competitive matches.
eSports have grown in popularity over the past decade, with ESPN even broadcasting the International Dota 2 Championships.
The Electronic Sports League (ESL) professional gaming organization has announced it's taking a tighter stance on drug control.
Gamers competing in eSports events will now have to avoid a list of banned substances compiled by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Banned substances include marijuana, anabolic steroids and growth hormones.
The ESL will check contestants at random using saliva tests, making exceptions for certain prescription medications.
A Reddit post from the ESL earlier this week confirmed the news, stating: "Our main goal is and always will be to maintain the fair play spirit and the integrity of our competitions.
"We're confident that the anti-doping policy is an important improvement that will help us advance as a sport."
The post continued: "It is a small, but in our eyes essential and meaningful step forward for professional gamers across all games, ESL as an event organizer, and the esports industry as a whole.
"There were a lot of questions left unanswered since the first announcement, and today we're ready to share more information with you."
It was revealed last month that eSports organisers were looking at ways to tackle doping in competitive gaming after professional gamer Kory Friesen said he used Adderall - a drug that improves reaction times - during an eSports tournament.
Now competitors will be required to provide proof "that they need this specific medication" before the start of competitive matches.
eSports have grown in popularity over the past decade, with ESPN even broadcasting the International Dota 2 Championships.
