On June 19, 2025, The Worldwide Esports Federation launched a press release revealing that one among Tekken’s most prolific gamers, Arslan Ash, had been sanctioned for steroid use.
Whereas the information was initially printed with out a lot fanfare, the higher combating sport neighborhood started to take discover in early July, with many confused by the timing of the announcement.
THE IESF claimed that Arslan had allegedly violated anti-doping guidelines in the course of the 2022 World Esports Championship, testing constructive for anabolic steroids on December 10 of that 12 months.
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The substances in query have been 19-norandrosterone, 19-noretiocholanolone, stanozolol metabolites, and metandienone metabolites, that are banned by the World Anti-Doping Affiliation (WADA).
In consequence, the IESF says Arslan obtained a two-year ban from April 26, 2023 to April 25, 2025. All his outcomes from the 2022 World Esports Championship, together with his awards, medals, factors, prize cash and titles have been stripped, together with these from any occasions between December 10, 2022 – April 26, 2023.
Which means Arslan’s achievements at Evo Japan 2023, Evo Las Vegas 2023 & 2024, in addition to the 2023 Tekken World Tour Finals in New Orleans have been basically moot.
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The combating sport neighborhood was puzzled by steroids being banned within the IESF, as these kind of substances aren’t broadly identified to boost gaming efficiency compared to treatment like Adderall, as an illustration.
Arslan Ash sanctions questioned by Esports Integrity Fee
The IESF’s ruling shortly went viral, prompting the Esports Integrity Fee to share a press release of its personal to the Esports Advocate on Wednesday, July 2.
Of their message, the EIC forged doubt on the IESF’s sanctions, clearly stating that it isn’t obligated to “assist, acknowledge, or implement” the ruling. Moreover, the ESIC famous that substances banned underneath WADA don’t apply to esports, because it differs from conventional sports activities so tremendously.
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“With out a scientifically grounded and purpose-built strategy to anti-doping in esports, severe penalties to aggressive integrity are inevitable — as demonstrated by this incident. ESIC stays firmly dedicated to a good, evidence-based anti-doping framework and can proceed to encourage all members to depend on ESIC’s established and confirmed strategy,” they wrote.
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X: ArslanAsh95Arslan Ash is called one of many biggest Tekken gamers of all time.
Arslan has since responded to the EISC’s ruling in a press release to ProPakistani, the place he admitted that he wasn’t conscious steroids have been banned in esports.
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“I wasn’t conscious these medication have been banned in esports,” he stated. “I used to be by no means utilizing them for any type of benefit in gaming. As soon as I discovered about their dangers and the anti-doping guidelines, I ended utilizing them utterly.”
Arslan Ash is likely one of the biggest professional gamers in Tekken historical past, famously placing Pakistan on the aggressive map together with his wins at each Evo Japan and Evo Final Vegas in 2019. Since then, he has gone on to take 5 complete Evo championships and even gained the Tekken World Tour in 2023.
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