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The Esports Integrity Commission’s unprecedented sanction – a lifetime ban for Alexey Shyshko

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Thursday, 25 January 2024 Author: Daniel Kozelko

On 4 December 2023, the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) announced a lifetime ban of Alexey Shyshko from all ESIC member events for breaches of the ESIC Anti-Corruption Code[1]. This came hot on the heels of two-year bans announced for Dmytri “SENSEi” Shvorak, Maksym “THRONE” Semenov, Artur “DarkS1DE” Kravchenko, and Danylo “nat1ve” Bakin, associates of Alexey Shyshko through teams Akuma, Project X, and Majesty[2]. The rejection order issued to Shyshko is expansive[3]:

The Rejection Order encompasses a comprehensive participation restriction, prohibiting Mr. Shyshko from participating in any capacity—whether as owner, agent, or manager—in any ESIC member events. Additionally, any team or player in which Mr. Shyshko has an interest or involvement is also barred from participating in ESIC member events.

ESIC itself recognised that this sanction was ‘unprecedented’[4], reflecting the seriousness of the offences committed by Shyshko over a significant period. It is telling that even indirect connections to Shyshko are sufficient in ESIC’s eyes to engage the rejection order issued. This sets the order apart from the number of others which ESIC have issued in the latter half of 2023.  This article reviews the Shyshko case:

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Dan Kozelko

Daniel Kozelko

Daniel practises from 39 Essex Chambers and has a particular interest in eSports issues.

He has significant experience in commercial and civil disputes. This includes assisting in multi-million pound contract and construction claims in the High Court, in arbitral proceedings, and appearing in the High Court on civil and regulatory disputes.

Daniel also has an interest in disciplinary proceedings, having worked on a number of matters for a variety of regulators. Daniel is an avid gamer, with a particular interest in MMORPGs, grand strategy, and FPSs. He looks forward to bringing his gaming knowledge to eSports and video game disputes.

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