The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has handed out three bans to individuals following its investigation into Counter Strike: Global Offensive match fixing allegations.
The investigation concerns an ESEA tournament earlier this year, during which members of the Rebirth team were recorded discussing how to manipulate the outcome of a match. Said recording, along with a transcript, was handed to ESIC.
Sebastian “retchy” Tropiano and Kevin “4pack” Przypasniak have both been issued five-year bans effective from 2 April, while Carson “nosraC”. O’Reilly’s 111 day ban has already been served.
O’Reilly’s ban was significantly shorter due to the fact that he could only be heard saying one inconclusive sentence in the recording.
An ESIC statement said: “After assessing Mr. O’Reilly’s participation in the conversation, ESIC further engaged in investigatory lines of enquiry to seek out any evidence of further involvement in any corrupt behavior beyond the recording. As at 22 July 2021, ESIC has concluded that there is currently no evidence that suggests that, unlike Mr Tropiano and Mr Przypasniak, Mr. O’Reilly perpetrated any other breaches of the Code.
“Consequently, time served by Mr. O’Reilly under effective suspension from the period of 2 April 2021 to 22 July 2021 has been deemed, by the Commissioner, as a sufficient sanction proportionate to his offence and he has been free since 22 July 2021, to play in ESIC member events.”
ESIC’s inquiry is still ongoing, with a further 34 investigations being carried out into the matter. It took the time to publish these sanctions early due to the fact that the compromising recording was published online in April, and therefore already in the public domain.
ESIC recently banned three ESL Legends of Runeterra (LoR) players for 12 months after they were found to be cheating during a tournament.
The organisation today launched a new transparency initiative, through which it will publish a register of ongoing investigations.
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