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[Update] Electronic Sports League Cracking Down On Performance-Enhancing Drug Use
Update 2: The ESL has responded with a comment offering insight into how its anti-PEDs initiative will impact players with existing, legitimate prescriptions to banned drugs like Adderall. An MLG representative offered the statement below.
"In the specific case of Adderall, we think best practice will be to look at the traditional sports organizations, and work with a system of granting exemptions for those who can present a legitimate prescription. Exact details will be determined by our league operations team, but it is my understanding so far that we are going to accommodate those who need Adderall to treat their ADHD symptoms."
Update 1: MLG has responded to the news of ESL's new anti-PED initiative. A MLG representative reaffirmed that it does not currently ask players to submit to testing, but that the company is also "evaluating whether or not additions/updates need to be made to the policy before each season." MLG pointed us towards its existing drug policy, below.
3. Prohibited Drugs: I represent and warrant that I will not take any illegal drugs, abuse any prescription or over the counter drugs, nor take any performance enhancing drugs prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as described on the WADA website, currently located at http://list.wada-ama.org/, which may be updated from time to time, and/or any other substances that may be prohibited by MLG, in connection with the Events.
Original Story: The ESL released a press release today stating the company is taking new measures to reduce and hopefully eliminate the use of performance-enhancing drugs in its eSports events.
ESL partnership with Germany's NADA (Nationale Anti Doping Agentur) and Canada's WADA (World Anti Doping Agency) aims to help preserve the integrity of the young, increasingly popular realm of eSports.
These allied organizations will be creating a PEDs prevention program as part of the initiative, which aims to help players find ways to cope with the emotional and physical stress of high-level play without resorting to drugs. The ESL will also begin administering randomized PED skin tests to check if any players having been enhancing their game. ESL's One Cologne event next month is the first time these tests will be performed, and the ESL promises to implement them at every event under its purview from here on in.
This news follows the event of a pro gamer admitting to using performance and cognitive-enhancing Adderall during an ESL-sanctioned Counter-Strike tournament. Read more about that via Mothership.
We reached out to ESL to see what the company's plan is for dealing with competitors who have existing, legitimate prescriptions to drugs like Adderall. We've also contacted Major League Gaming to see if the company is planning a similar prevention measure to keep its sanctioned eSports events clean of PEDs.
Our Take
When people think of drug abuse in sports, they likely imagine a burly baseball player and accusations of steroid abuse. Unfortunately, PEDs aren't isolated to the realm of traditional sports, and the rapidly growing eSports community is prone to similar bad habits. I'm happy to see that the ESL is taking measures to help keep the competitive gaming circuit as clean as possible. Hopefully MLG steps up their anti-PED game as well.
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