In January 2015, the north american team representing iBUYPOWER “threw” a game against NetcodeGuides. Up on further investigation Valve announced that iBUYPOWER was in fact involved in match-fixing and that they threw the game on porpoise so they could profit with the loss, in result to that, Valve punished the all the players involved with permanent bans for Major tournaments.
Since Valve issued those bans, other organizers followed and also banned iBUYPOWER for competing in their leagues and tournaments.
In July this year, ESL and ESEA announced that EX-iBP players’s bans where lifted and that they could once again compete in their competitions. This action was received with great enthusiasm by most of the professional players, since the majority wanted the players unbanned due to the fact that already 2 years passed since the incident and claiming that EX-iBP players learned their lesson.
Two days ago, on September 6th, Dreamhack announced that the EX-iBP players could participate in DreamHack’s competitions and that the bans and sanctions were lifted. Although, Dreamhack also said that new rules were implemented to prevent and furthermore punish any player who violates them.
The new Dreamhack rules for first-time offenders are the following:
- Cheating:Disqualification from the tournament, results voided, forfeiture of prize money, ban between 2 year and lifetime depending on age and level of player and nature/size of tournament and how the player cheated (this offence includes “smurfing” where both parties involved are liable to sanctions). Cheating at a competition played above an amateur level (i.e. where significant prize pool is involved or qualification for a professional event is at stake) should normally result in a 5 year ban, but, in aggravating circumstances, can result in a lifetime ban.
- Match-Fixing/betting fraud: Results voided, 5 year ban unless significant mitigating factors in line with the ESIC Anti-Corruption Code or, in the presence of aggravating circumstances, a longer ban, forfeiture of prize money and monetary fine (if discovered before the end of a tournament, disqualification).
- Doping: Results voided, ban of between 1 and 2 years, forfeiture of prize money (if discovered before the end of a tournament, disqualification).
- Competition manipulation and bribery: Results voided, ban of between 1 and 2 years, forfeiture of prize money and monetary fine (if discovered before the end of a tournament, disqualification).
DreamHack also added that second offences will result in harsher punishment and that, in the cases of cheating or match-fixing, a potential lifetime ban from esports could be set.
