Overview
Cloud9 Adderall Controversy refers to the controversy surrounding the discovery of the use of the ADHD medication Adderall as a performance enhancing drug within the e-sports team Cloud9. The controversy convinced pro-gaming network ESL to install strict anti-drug rules onto their players and teams.
Background
The idea of performance enhancing drugs, or PEDs, within professional e-sports had been a topic for many years, and various claims of the use of PEDs had been reported on by various gaming news sites, such as NowGamer,[1] New Scientist,[2] as well as several others.[3][4][5][6] However, there was no substantial proof to these claims, and, as such, no official action was taken by any major gaming network.
On July 12, 2015 YouTuber LAUNDERSCSTRIKE uploaded an interview he had with former Cloud9 player Kory “Semphis” Friesen in which he had stated that he and the rest of Cloud9 had taken the ADHD medication Adderall to boost their performance during a professional Counter Strike competition called ESL One Katowice (shown below).
Notable Developments
Following the release of the interview several news sites were quick to report on the matter, including SegmentNext,[7] BreitBart,[8] Kotaku,[9] and several others.[10][11][12] Several YouTubers and YouTube gaming news shows also reported on the story including Richard Lewis (shown below, left) and Machinima ETC’s parody gaming news show TUGS (shown below, right).
ESL Response
On July 20th, 2015, head of communications at ESL, Anna Rozwandowicz, told gaming news site Wired, that they had begun work on new stricter rules to police the use of PEDs within the gaming network, which would include randomized drug testings for the player within the ESL.[13] Other news sites also reported on the Wired article.[14][15][16] Later on July 23rd, 2015, ESL announced that it had partnered with the NADA (Nationale Anti Doping Agentur) to create a fair anti-PED policy for the gaming network.[17] Several news sites reported on the ESL’s response including The New York Times,[18] The Wall Street Journal,[19]ESPN,[20] as well as several others.[21][22][23][24] Several YouTubers and YouTube gaming news shows also reported on the announcement, including Force Gaming (shown below, left), as well as being featured in a second episode of TUGS (shown below, right).
Search Interest
External References
[1]NowGamer – Are eSports Stars Using Performance Enhancing Drugs?
[2]New Scientist – Esports: Doping is rampant, industry insider claims
[3]Softpedia – Study: eSports Players Have Physical Advantages over Normal Players
[4]News of Legends – Anti-Doping Rules – should eSports be concerned about performance enhancing drugs?
[5]BoingBoing – Is drug use a problem for eSports?
[6]Eurogamer – Winners might use drugs
[7]SegmentNext – Drug Abuse in Competitive Gaming is Turning Into a Menace
[8]BreitBart – QUESTIONSABOUTPERFORMANCE-ENHANCINGDRUGS IN ESPORTSRAISEDAGAIN
[9]Kotaku – Pro Counter-Strike Player: ‘We were all on Adderall’
[10]TechnoBuffalo – Pro Counter-Strike player says everyone takes Adderall at eSports competitions
[11]Game Rant – CS:GO Pros Admit to Adderall Use During Tournaments
[12]CheatSheet – Drugs and Competitive Gaming: It’s Already Happening
[13]Wired – ESL responds to esports doping controversy
[14]PCGamer – ESL preparing new anti-doping rules following Katowice Adderall controversy
[15]VG24/7 – ESL looking to implement random drug testing after recent Adderall scandal
[16]LazyGamer – eSports organizations to toughen up drug rules following player doping admission
[17]ESL– ESL leads anti-PED initiative for esports with the support of NADA
[18]The New York Times – Drug Testing Is Coming to E-Sports
[19]The Wall Street Journal – Now Coming to E-Sports: Random Drug Testing
[20]ESPN– ESL announces plans to test for PEDs
[21]The Denver Post – Electronic Sports League to begin random drug tests
[22]Fortune – Just like with regular sports, eSports athletes will be tested for drugs
[23]arstechnia – Winners can’t use drugs: Anti-doping tests are coming to eSports [Updated]
[24]PCGamer – After drug scandal, ESL says ‘esports needs to mature’