ESL adjust sanctions for cheating in esports

ESL have announced adjustments to their rulings concerning cheating in esports in line with ESIC's recommendations.

ESL have revealed adjustments to their sanctions regarding cheating in esports in line with a recent survey conducted by the Esports Integrity Coalition (ESIC). The organisation conducted a survey amongst 7,000 esports fans, in addition to conversations with professional players within the industry to determine what the individuals found to be appropriate sanctions for various offences. Upon its conclusion, the following measures were recommended to ESL, who will subsequently introduce them to their rulebook:
 

• Cheating: Disqualification from the tournament, results voided, forfeiture of prize money, ban between 2 year and lifetime depending on age and level of player and nature/size of tournament and how the player cheated. Cheating at a competition played above an amateur level (i.e. where significant prize pool is involved, or a qualification for a professional event is at stake) should normally result in a 5 year ban, but, in aggravating circumstances, can result in a lifetime ban.
• Match-Fixing/betting fraud: Results voided, 5 year ban unless significant mitigating factors in line with the ESIC Anti-Corruption Code or, in the presence of aggravating circumstances, a longer ban, forfeiture of prize money and monetary fine (if discovered before the end of a tournament, disqualification).
• Doping by using performance-enhancing substances: Results voided, ban of between 1 and 2 years, forfeiture of prize money (if discovered before the end of a tournament, disqualification).
• Competition manipulation and bribery: Results voided, ban of between 1 and 2 years, forfeiture of prize money and monetary fine (if discovered before the end of a tournament, disqualification)

Tournament rules will be adjusted for all ESL events including IEM, ESL One, ESL Pro League series, as well as the ESEA Leagues and amateur competitions effective as of August 1st, 2017. Additionally, the tournament organiser has revealed that indefinite bans have been lifted from all players who were banned prior to February 15th, 2017, including life bans issued to ex-iBUYPOWER players following the infamous match-fixing scandal. 

Ulrich Schulze, Senior Vice President Product at ESL expressed the following: 

We believe that integrity and fair play are of the utmost importance in esports, and our updated catalogue of sanctions reflects that commitment. All of these adjustments do not apply to bans and punishments issued by Valve directly though, which will still be in place for all Valve sponsored tournaments run by ESL, such as Majors.”

Individuals interested in reading the entire recommendation from ESIC can peruse it by follow this link.

Images courtesy of ESL