After announcing their partnership with NADA and WADA a few weeks ago, ESL Head of Communication Anna Rozwandowick revealed a few more details about ESL’s new anti-doping policy. The first thing to note is that they will be testing for more than just Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs). The list of prohibited substances is the one used by WADA and NADA and it includes substances that are not PEDs like alcohol and marijuana(during competitions).
The first testings will be conducted at ESL One Cologne and they will be randomized. Also, instead of the skin tests they first announced, ESL decided after consulting with authorities that saliva tests will be better suited. If a player has a legitimate prescription for medication that contains any of the banned substances they will have disclose it before the competition starts and bring proof from a doctor/physician that they need said medication.
“Our main goal is and always will be to maintain the fair play spirit and the integrity of our competitions, and we’re confident that the anti-doping policy is an important improvement that will help us advance as a sport.” reads Anna Rozwandowick’s reddit post. “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.”