Abstract
Esports includes competitive video gaming, where players compete in teams and individually. As per reports, the esports industry is growing at a tremendous pace with an exponential increase in viewership and player participation. Doping has been associated with sports for a long time and is taking a dynamic shape in the esporting domain as well. Due to its wider scope, e-doping has not been defined anywhere yet in a stricter form and there is a cry among the industry for the formation of concrete rules, regulations, and laws. The same has not been addressed in India, one of the world’s biggest esports markets. The article analyses (1) the history of esports and doping, (2) the instances of e-doping, and (3) the legal framework of e-doping in India and other select jurisdictions. The author has used a doctrinal method of study and has relied on articles, policy documents, reports, and opinions of experts in the industry to suggest a way forward for the industry. The authors conclude by discussing methods and ways on how the menace of doping can be curbed in the esporting industry, lacunas relating to its governance, and regulations with remarks and suggestions.
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