Doping in e-sports. An empirical exploration and search for sociological interpretations

Abstract

Electronic sports is a new phenomenon in scientific research. Many issues within it have not been systematically analyzed. The use of artificial substances to improve human physical abilities is most often addressed in the context of deviation in sports. E-sports partially reflects sporting functionality, but in the area of doping and anti-doping control in video game competitions, it is difficult to delineate the boundary between what is allowed and what is forbidden. The aim of this work is to reconstruct the social assessment of doping in e-sports based on the attitudes and experience of fans and players. Most players accept the use of stimulants, such as energy drinks. Some of them also observe the use of prohibited substances during games. E-sports enthusiasts usually support anti-doping controls modeled on traditional sports and emphasize the importance of structural determinants of the issue, such as allowing the use of prohibited means.