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For those who follow the NHL, Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad was recently suspended for 20 games for violating the NHL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.[1] From Barry Bonds to Lance Armstrong, doping in sports has a long history. However, with the rise of esports, a parallel phenomenon known as “e-doping” is emerging as a significant issue in the video game industry.

The use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), particularly stimulants like Adderall, Vyvanse, and Ritalin, are known to enhance key attributes for competitive gaming such as focus, attention, and reaction times. Anecdotal reports suggest that the misuse of prescription stimulants is widespread among professional gamers. Indeed, a 2020 Washington Post article highlighted that rampant Adderall abuse is an “open secret” in the esports community.[2]

In response to concerns about PED use, the Electronic Sports League (ESL) introduced an anti-doping policy.[3]However, enforcing such regulations remains challenging due to factors such as the legality of prescription drugs and the decentralized nature of esports. Regarding the first issue, unscrupulous players can circumvent anti-doping restrictions by obtaining an ADHD diagnosis, making it difficult to distinguish between legitimate medical use and performance enhancement.[4] The second issue stems from the fragmented nature of esports. Unlike traditional sports, competitive gaming lacks uniform regulations across different games and leagues, and players often compete remotely. While games such as Fortnite and Overwatch have policies stating that prescription drugs should not be used solely to enhance gaming performance, there is currently no feasible way for any governing body to monitor PED use among players consistently.[5]

As the popularity of competitive gaming continues to grow, so too do sponsorship deals and prize pools, increasing the incentives to seek an unfair advantage. The gaming industry must work toward ensuring a level playing field to maintain fair competition. However, what is the best way to address the issue of PED use in esports?

[1] “Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad suspended 20 games for PED program violation” Sportsnet (10 March 2025) https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/panthers-aaron-ekblad-suspended-20-games-for-ped-program-violation/.

[2] C. Hamstead, “‘Nobody talks about it because everyone is on it’: Adderall presents esports with an enigma” The Washington Post (13 February 2020) https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/esports/2020/02/13/esports-adderall-drugs/.

[3] C. Hamstead.

[4] C. Hamstead.

[5] C. Hamstead.

In Canada’s economic sphere, there has been some momentum toward removing interprovincial trade barriers, which could help reduce Canada’s economic dependence on its neighbours.[1] Perhaps Canada’s video game industry would benefit from revisiting Sara Grimes, Darshana Jayemanne, and Seth Giddings’ article “Rethinking Canada’s Approach to Children’s Digital Game Regulation.”[2]

In this article, Sara Grimes—whom Professor Festinger mentioned in class—critiques Canada’s reliance on the U.S. based Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) classification system. Digital games for children offer valuable opportunities for socialization, play, and learning, but they also present risks. According to the authors, the ESRB is insufficient to safeguard children’s rights in the digital environment, as its ratings do not adequately address children’s varying literacies, maturity levels, or elements embedded in games yet “distinct” from their contents, such as third-party ads and invasive data collection practices.[3]

Interestingly, the ESRB is not enforced by any U.S. federal or state laws, yet it is enforced in numerous Canadian provinces despite the lack of direct Canadian involvement in the classification process or any formalized accountability to the Canadian public.[4] The authors argue that the ESRB process is not targeted enough to address the novel risks associated with the growth of online children’s games. For example, games that include microtransactions or online interactions with other users are merely given an “interactive elements” warning, which does not influence the game’s overall rating.[5]

Moreover, the ESRB’s classification process might not adequately reflect Canadian values or account for the diverse cultural contexts within Canada. To highlight this point, the authors compare film classification systems in British Columbia and Alberta, revealing discrepancies in age ratings for the same films. This raises questions about whether similar discrepancies would arise if games were rated domestically rather than through the ESRB system.

Given these concerns, is it time for the Canadian gaming industry to consider a classification system better suited to reflect Canadian cultural norms and protect Canadian children? How might this best be approached?

Read the full article here.

[1] N. Mallees, J. Hunter, & J. Gray, “Ottawa agrees with provinces to act fast to topple internal trade barriers” The Globe and Mail (5 March 2025) https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ottawa-strikes-deal-with-provinces-territories-on-internal-trade-amid/.

[2] S. M. Grimes, D. Jayemanne, S. Giddings, “Rethinking Canada’s Approach to Children’s Digital Game Regulation” (2023) 48:1.

[3] Grimes, Jayemanne, & Giddings at p 144.

[4] Grimes, Jayemanne, & Giddings at p 147.

[5] Grimes, Jayemanne, & Giddings at p 147.