ESL to administer first round of randomized drug testing at ESL One Cologne
In light of the recent Adderall scandal, the ESL has announced it will administer randomized drug tests at the ESL One Cologne event this August.
The eSports body said it is taking immediate action to "ensure company values of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity are guarded."
ESL aims to perform randomized skin tests for performance enhancing drugs at every event in the Intel Extreme Masters, ESL One and ESL ESEA Pro League competitions.
Instead of testing via urinalysis, the skin test - also known as a drug wipe or skin patch - is easier to administer and detects drugs in a user's skin and sweat. Tests such as these do not require the tester to watch a person urinate to ensure there isn't an manipulation of the sample. This also makes it easier for the procedure to be observed.
Skins tests detect amphetamines like Adderall, cannabis, cocaine, opiates, and methamphetamines (this includes MDMA, Ecstasy).
"ESL will remain proactive in ensuring all professional players and organisations involved in our competitions will be informed about the current status of this initiative," said the firm's head of communication, Anna Rozwandowicz.
"Players participating in individual competitions under the ESL brand will be reached through their respective team managers and/or owners with updates on changes in the tournament rules. This will include the list of banned substances, the methods of testing, and the disciplinary actions for players caught using PEDs and/or admitting to having used them."
Rozwandowicz went on to confirm the ESL is working with the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) as well as Germany's Nationale Anti Doping Agentur (NADA).
WADA and NADA will help the ESL research and determine an anti-PEDs policy that is "fair, feasible and respects the privacy of the players" while also providing a system of "conclusive" drug test results.
"A PEDs prevention program will be distributed to all players participating in eSports competitions organized, hosted or produced by ESL." Rozwandowicz continued. "The goal of this program is to ensure players are provided with information and structural support to help them manage the physical and emotional pressure that the highest level of competitive gaming puts on many of them.
"The growing visibility and popularity of esports, as well as increasing prize pools make it not only more tempting for teams and players to break the rules, but also more damaging to our sport as a whole when they do. The company has a commitment to safeguarding the integrity of our competitions and providing a fair playground for professional players."
It was announced earlier this week the ESL was looking to implement a drug testing policy due to recent allegations of widespread Adderall use during tournaments.