Every sport out there has a list of substances that are prohibited. Each of these lists have minor differences, but essentially are designed to do one thing: keep a level playing field for every competitor. With the rise of esports culture, rules needed to be set in place on what is and isn’t allowed.

This started in 2015 when a player from Cloud9, Kory “Semphis” Friesen, stepped up and said “We were all on Adderall”. He went on to explain that everyone does Adderall and that’s “how you get good”, when giving tips to the fans. ESL, the esports organization, nearly immediately put a crackdown on doping before play. They instilled rules, alongside the World Anti-Doping Agency, to cultivate fairness across the board. Most of the entries are self-explanatory, but without knowing individual ingredients, it can be a little difficult to wade through. As the document doesn’t list brand names, it focuses on the individual chemicals, which touches on a lot of drugs and pills, without specifically naming them.

Let's make it easy...

Since the list is so long and hard to get through, we’ll just highlight the main topics and explain what they are. For individual ingredients, banned substances, and prohibited methods, click here.

• Anabolic Agents - Testosterone steroids fall under this label, as well as what is probably the longest list in the document.
• Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics - Growth hormones that help people bulk up or get bigger are a no-go.
• Beta-2 Agonists - Usually used for people with asthma, inhalers relax muscles. There are some exceptions to the rule, but check the list.
• Hormone and Metabolic Modulators - Commonly used (i.e. abused) by bodybuilders, these come in a variety of ways. A common example will stop male hormones from converting to female. Most sports have had these banned for decades.
• Diuretics and Masking Agents - These make people have to use the restroom, which in itself is harmless. Generally, they’re used by dopers to mask that they have been using any drugs by making them get it out of their system directly before a game.
• Stimulants - Drugs that increase awareness fall under this category, such as cocaine and methylamphetamine, but also pills like Andrafinil.
• Narcotics - If you can’t have stimulants, narcotics that calm you down (like morphine) are going to be out too.
• Cannabinoids - Whatever you call it (cannabis, marijuana, weed, pot, etc.), it’s a calming drug and isn’t allowed.
• Glucocorticoids - These are supplements that are also considered steroids.
• Manipulation of Blood and Blood Components - Blood doping is designed to carry more oxygen to muscles, increasing endurance and reaction.
• Chemical and Physical Manipulation - This is self explanatory. Tampering with the samples or taking more than a certain amount of intravenous infusion (outside of an actual hospital visit) are prohibited.
• Gene Doping - This is taking gene therapy to a higher level for purposes of enhancing performance.

This is the short version of the list, which details more specific points and individual examples for clarity. For those getting into esports or competitive gaming, knowing what you can and cannot do are a must. In the end, this helps all players have a fair chance at being great at their games and really has done a lot for competitive gaming teams and owners since implemented two years ago.

UPDATE: Esport Integrity Coalition

The above article is the original anti-doping code as presented by ESL on January 2015. As of January 2016, the Esports Integrity Coaltion has been partnered with ESL, as well as numerous other competitive events, such as Dreamhack. While the original thought processes are similar, the current list utilizes specific generics, as well as their brand name counter-parts for examples.

The following substances are considered "Prohibited", unless the player has obtained a Therapeutic Use Exemption (which is stated in the ESIC's full doping policy):

• Amphetamine sulfate (Evekeo)
• Dextroamphetamine (Adderall and Adderall XR),
• Dexedrine, (ProCentra, Zenzedi)
• Dexmethylphenidate (Focalin and Focalin XR)
• Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse)
• Methylphenidate (Concerta, Daytrana, Metadate CD and Metadate ER, Methylin and Methylin ER, Ritalin, Ritalin SR, Ritalin LA, Quillivant XR)
• Modafinil and armodafinil.

Some items are not considered "Prohibited", but they are monitored heavily by the ESIC. These include medications for ADHD and anxiety.

Non-stimulant Medications for ADHD

• Atomoxetine (Strattera)
• Clonidine hydrochloride (Kapvay)
• Guanfacine (Intuniv)

Anxiety medications:

• Amitriptyline (Elavil), desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), or other tricyclic antidepressants
• Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
• Escitalopram (Lexapro) and sertraline (Zoloft)
• Venlafaxine (Effexor)

In addition to the anti-doping code set out by the ESIC, the participating partner leagues adhere to the anti-corruption and code of ethics policies, as well as their procedures for taking care of disiplinaries for breaking the policies.