Professional eSports league adopts the same drug policy as the OLYMPICS to

However, Motherboard notes: “ESL is just one eSports organization, and a very important one, but its new anti-doping policies won’t cover eSports in their entirety”.

Before the tournament in Germany, ESL already announced last month its plans to begin randomised testing for performance-enhancing drugs.

The Reddit post also states that the use of marijuana will be prohibited during the tournament.

Marijuana is also banned – during competition.

“This means that recreational use of it outside (before) the event days will not be punished”, ESL said. “I’ve seen a number of players at national tournaments who came in “baked” purely so they could play better”, Australian World Cyber Games Tournament Director Alex Walker said in a 2011 interview. Drug use in E-sports had been an issue before, but no player has admitted to drug use in fear of being banned from tournaments. These competitors must disclose this information to the ESL as soon as possible, but no later than before the first match.

While drugs such as cocaine, crack, and steroids are shoe-ins, the main drug of concern from a competitive standpoint is Adderall, a known medication that assists in managing narcolepsy and ADHD. However, as of now, only ESL One Cologne competitors will be subjected to these randomized tests.

“Marijuana is on the list of prohibited substances during the competition”. And given players face a saliva test, which typically detects cannabis use during the previous 24 hours only, it sounds like ESL is simply trying to prevent players from turning up stoned to its event, and isn’t too bothered by what they get up to outside of it. These punishments include hits to prize money or tournament points at the mild end to disqualification and two year bans at the most extreme.

The new rule will require random drug testing.

Some of ESL’s players may have legitimate prescriptions for Adderall and similar drugs, with Rozwandowicz saying that they will be able to compete – but must provide a doctor’s letter or other proof that they need it for medicinal purposes.

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”.