Esports scandals are not entirely new. And usually, players get a brief slap on the wrist with suspension and everything. But to be completely banned from playing a game? Well, that’s another story entirely. In this article, we’ll be showing some of the biggest cheating in Esports performed by players in various games.
5 Players Banned for Cheating in Esports – Here’s Why!
1) Sado – Overwatch
Talk about a scandal that rocked the Overwatch League! In 2018, Philadelphia Fusion tank player Sado made headlines for all the wrong reasons—he was banned before the season even started! But it wasn’t for a personal cheat to get ahead; instead, Sado was caught boosting other players’ accounts to help them rack up higher rankings… and pocketing cash in the process.
Sado’s career with the Fusion was put on ice until May after cheating in Esports, months after the season had kicked off in January. While we don’t know exactly what OWL players make, you’d think the salary would be enough to keep them from resorting to illegal boosts. Blizzard’s strict no-boosting policy means this was bound to end badly, and unfortunately for Sado, it did. Talk about a game over move!
2) malibu and summertime – VALORANT
In a shocking scandal that rocked Game Changers, top players Madelyn “malibu” Campos and James “summertime” Edwards were banned for cheating in Esports ahead of the tournament’s 2023 qualifiers. Malibu was caught boosting her account for cash, using another player’s account to rank up, and even circumventing a hardware ban. Summertime assisted in the deception by submitting an AI-generated photo to Riot Games as part of the verification process.
Riot Games’ investigation revealed the full extent of the cheating, resulting in permanent bans for Malibu and a one-year ban for Summertime. The scandal severely damaged noot noot’s reputation, and both players now face a long road back to redemption—if that’s even possible in esports after such a notorious fall from grace.
3) joel – Counter-Strike 2
Joel “joel” Holmlund, a Counter-Strike pro for BC.Game Esports, was caught cheating in Esports during the 2024 CCT Europe Series. The tournament, monitored by Akros Anti-Cheat, detected suspicious activity from joel in a match against B8, leading to his immediate ban and his team’s disqualification.
This isn’t joel’s first run-in with controversy—he was previously charged with match-fixing and betting violations during his time with GODSENT. The scandal has tarnished his reputation, and BC.Game Esports faces backlash, as the organization is tied to an esports betting platform. With a history of disciplinary issues, joel’s future in esports looks uncertain.
4) Multiple Players – Dota 2
In a major cheating in Esports scandal last year, 46 players were banned from Dota 2 events following an investigation into cheating during the Dota Pro Circuit competition in China.
Team Knights, which used vision hacks to secure a third-place finish, saw all their players banned. Despite rebranding as Antarctic Penguins, the entire roster is now banned.
Of the 46 players, 21 received lifetime bans, 13 got two-year suspensions, and 12 were given one-year suspensions for “interference with fair competition.” These players are now barred from participating in any Dota 2 competitive events.
5) IWDominate – League of Legends
IWDominate, a former pro player turned streamer, made waves in the esports community for his toxic behavior. Early in his career, he was banned from the League of Legends Championship Series for a year due to flaming. Despite this, he used a second account to climb the NA server leaderboard, eventually returning to the LCS.
However, Riot banned him from the LoL affiliate program for another year after a stream comment violated their guidelines. Despite these setbacks, IWDominate continued to build his presence in the esports scene, with the bans failing to derail his career.
Final Words
Cheating in esports are like the plot twists we never saw coming! Whether it’s boosting accounts, match-fixing, or toxic behavior, these shocking moments remind us that even the most exciting tournaments can have a dark side.
For some players, a ban is just a bump in the road, but for others, it’s a career-ending move. While the rise of anti-cheat systems is trying to keep things fair, these scandals show just how high the stakes are in the world of esports.
It’s all fun and games until someone breaks the rules, and then it’s game over!
