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Esports may face doping regulations amid education efforts

WADA and GEF plan to educate gamers on doping risks and enforce future regulations.

May 23, 2023 at 08:36 PM

Exclusive: Doping-Education first but drug-testing in gamers' future, says WADA

The World Anti-Doping Agency and Global Esport Federation are collaborating to educate gamers about doping risks.

Doping rules for esports could change as education effort begins

Gamers who use stimulants might find themselves excluded from competitions, following a new agreement between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Global Esport Federation (GEF). They are working on an education program aimed at raising awareness about the risks of performance-enhancing drugs among gamers. WADA noted the need to inform players, who often spend long hours gaming, about potential health issues related to substance use. Currently, esports lacks a regulatory body for drug testing, but discussions around this are gaining momentum as the industry grows.

Key Takeaways

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Esports may soon face doping regulations similar to traditional sports.

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Education about doping risks is the first step for gamers.

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The development of a regulatory body for esports is imminent.

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WADA's involvement signals increasing legitimacy for competitive gaming.

"Esport Federation realizes that they have now a real need to start educating their players because they see there are challenges in the abuse of substances."

Olivier Niggli from WADA emphasizes the importance of educating esports players about doping risks.

"There is not a regulatory body in esports. Therefore, the word doping does not exist in the same context as it does in traditional sport."

Melita Moore highlights the current lack of doping regulations in esports compared to other sports.

"We want to encourage now the esports to be a bit more structured and regulated in terms of the potential use of prohibited substances."

Niggli expresses WADA's commitment to developing regulations for esports.

The potential shift in regulatory attitudes toward esports reflects the growing recognition of gaming as a serious sporting endeavor. As esports gains traction, especially with Olympic interest, the conversation about doping becomes more urgent. Educating players about health and wellness is a starting point, but regulation may follow, marking a new chapter for esports that parallels traditional sports. Ultimately, formation of a doping culture could reshape competitive gaming significantly.