The Electronic Sports League (ESL) announced that it will begin screening potential contestants to its gaming competitions for banned illegal substances much like the Olympic committee's own implementation of its anti-doping program.
Last month, ESL officials reported that it would conduct an anti-illegal drug scheme after one of top competitive gamers admitted of playing under the influence of a performance-enhancement substance during one competition.
The electronic gaming league said that competitive players who will be caught violating the rules of its anti-drug program will face disqualification or even banishment from ESL-sanctioned tournaments.
ESL's stand on the issue of illegal substance use is now being viewed as a precedent for other such gaming competitions.
The Electronic Sports League said that it has included the same list of prohibited drugs the World Anti-Doping Agency follows for its own rules, but gamers who can provide valid prescription would be allowed to declare their needed medicines.
The gaming league's restrictions on banned substances will be in effect from the beginning of the first day of competition until the last day. Players who will take drugs outside of ESL competitions will not face punishments.
ESL also said that it will use saliva tests to screen prospective players as it is believed to be a "better fit" for the league compared to skin tests.
"Our main goal is and always will be to maintain the fair play spirit and the integrity of our competitions," Electronic Sports League representative Anna Rozwandowicz said.
eSports competitions are often flocked by thousands of competitive video gamers in order to catch their favorite players competing for various awards, including cash prizes reaching up to $500,000.
The gaming league decided to launch its anti-doping scheme after competitive gamer Kory Friesen, who is popularly known among video gaming circles as Semphis, confessed that he had taken the drug Adderall while competing at a tournament earlier this year.
Keith Andrew, a games journalist, said that electronic sports has become not only a hobby but a mainstream event as well, so much so that players are even prepared to take illegal substances in order to win.
While he lauds the ESL for undertaking such restrictive action, Andrew said that it is depressing that the situation has come to such a point. He said that some gamers will do anything to enhance their performance and win the prize money.
The first set of randomized tests will be conducted at the next ESL even on Aug. 22.
