ESIC will not penalize CSGO cheating after long investigation

The Esports Integrity Commission, which receives financial backing from major tournament organizers like ESL and BLAST, has chosen not to impose any formal sanctions on teams, players, or coaches involved in last summer’s stream sniping controversies.

The ESIC’s official response emerged after several months of investigation, primarily restating existing regulations prohibiting stream sniping rather than delivering substantive action. The commission justified this inaction by arguing that widespread participation in the practice made comprehensive enforcement impractical for the already challenged professional CS:GO ecosystem. Additional concerns surfaced regarding ESIC Commissioner Ian Smith’s explanation for withholding penalties.

“In my assessment, the optimal approach for the broader CS:GO community, which has experienced multiple significant integrity breaches this year,” Smith stated.

ESIC report on coaching still missing, stream sniping announcement lacking

The ESIC’s handling of stream sniping incidents reveals critical flaws in esports governance. When numerous teams potentially gain unfair advantages by monitoring live streams during matches, the competitive integrity of the entire ecosystem becomes compromised. Common mistakes teams make include assuming stream delays provide sufficient protection or believing casual viewing doesn’t constitute cheating.

Practical strategies for tournament organizers include implementing mandatory broadcast delays of at least 5 minutes and establishing clear monitoring protocols. Advanced players should understand that even indirect exposure to live streams during competitions can create integrity concerns.

The coaching exploit scandal Smith referenced involves a technical vulnerability that allowed coaches to obtain comprehensive overhead map visibility, including enemy positioning and equipment details. The ESIC imposed suspensions on 37 coaches for different durations after engaging two professional CS:GO referees to manually examine thousands of match recordings for evidence of exploit utilization during official competitions.

While the initial coaching investigation report published in September detailed these findings, the ESIC committed to releasing supplementary documentation following consultations with key tournament stakeholders—the same organizations that provide substantial financial support to the commission.

ESIC announces sanctions against 37 individuals in relation to the exploitation of the Spectator Bug.

Only 20% of available data (99,650 demos) has been examined.

ESIC to issue one final report at the end of October to close the investigation.pic.twitter.com/tyduJkVvxo

— ESIC (@ESIC_Official)September 28, 2020

The distinction between tournament organizers and an “Integrity Commission” continues to blur concerningly. Organizations frequently follow directives from their financial backers, making it plausible that participating tournament organizers prefer burying controversies rather than allowing them to impact financial performance.

Is the ESIC a third-party integrity operator?

To clarify unequivocally, The Esports Integrity Commission does not operate as a third-party entity. Although designated as a not-for-profit organization, the ESIC mandates financial contributions from tournament organizers calculated as a percentage of their largest annual prize pool as membership dues.

This funding model creates inherent conflicts of interest that compromise independent decision-making. Tournament organizers contributing significant membership fees may exert undue influence over investigation outcomes and disciplinary actions.

Given the ESIC’s inaction and the potential financial consequences of additional CS:GO controversies, both competitors and organizations should exercise caution regarding competitive rulings. This represents a frustrating conclusion to what promised definitive resolution regarding violations of CS:GO’s fundamental competitive rules.

Instead of providing clarity, the ESIC merely reaffirmed that stream sniping remains prohibited. The investigation conclusion stated it wouldn’t discuss specific teams or individuals potentially involved in decision-making, while suggesting undisclosed arrangements in its final remarks.

While the ESIC indicated availability for commentary, communication inquiries concerning both CS:GO’s coaching exploit and stream sniping investigations have received no response. Smith concluded his communication asserting the commission fulfilled its due diligence obligations, but ultimately placing responsibility for final judgment on players and teams.

“ESIC has accomplished its mission to safeguard esports integrity through our actions, but those coaches, players[,] and teams we’ve exempted from penalties through this decision have received explicit warning of close monitoring,” Smith finalized.

ESIC Final Report on Professional CSGO StreamsnipingbyNick Johnsonon Scribd

No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » ESIC will not penalize CSGO cheating after long investigation Examining ESIC's controversial decision to not penalize CSGO stream sniping and coaching exploits