ESL announces new drug tests
While normally used to treat symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD, it is purported to lead to an increase in focus and improves reaction time which, if true, would lend an unfair advantage to the user.
Just over a week ago professional Counter Strike: Global Offensive player Kory “Semphis” Friesen admitted that along with other members of Cloud9 he used Adderall to boost his performance during an ESL tournament, saying that “people can hate it or whatever, tons of people do it”. Semphis will not be facing punishment as the Electronic Sports League has stated “we can’t punish someone if we are not 100 percent sure he is guilty.”
Friesen’s admission has broken silence surrounding the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in eSports which is something that has been quietly accepted but has never been confirmed by an athlete on record.
A statement issued after the fact by ESL doesn’t reference this specific incident but goes on to talk about a need for “immediate action” in an effort to dispel any notions that eSports is turning a blind eye or ignoring the use of PEDs in competition.
“We also wish to take immediate action to ensure the company values of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity are guarded,” ESL concluded. “With that in mind, we are going to administer first randomised PEDs skin tests at the ESL One Cologne event this August.”
The Electronic Sports League who, in partnership with NADA (National Anti-Doping Agency) in Germany, will begin screening at the ESL One Cologne event with more tests planned for every event in the IEM, ESL One, and ESL ESEA Pro League competitions.
This is an effort on their part to help “research and determine an anti-performance enhancing drugs policy that is fair, feasible and respects the privacy of the players, whilst simultaneously providing conclusive testing results.”
In addition to the anti-doping it is putting forward, ESL has said it will begin development on a prevention program in order to “ensure players are provided with information and structural support to help them manage the physical and emotional pressure that the highest level of competitive gaming puts on many of them,” according to the press release.
On their official website, the ESL have since gone on to say that “we will remain proactive in ensuring all professional players and organisations involved in ESL competitions will be kept informed of the initiative’s progress. Updates on changes to tournament rules including the list of banned substances, methods of testing and potential disciplinary actions for players caught using PEDs and/or admitting to having used them will be provided to players via their respective team managers and/or owners.”
