35 pro CS:GO players have been banned for "betting-related offences"

A number of professional Counter-Strike: Global Offensive players have been punished for breaching the Esports Integrity Commission's - ESIC - anti-corruption rules.

"ESIC issues sanctions against 35 players for betting-related offences & extends bans for 2 players previously sanctioned in October 2020," ESIC reported. "ESIC will continue to investigate further offences in Australia, NA and Europe in cooperation with law enforcement."

"Sanctions issued in today's release are not for match-fixing," the organisation adds. "However, ESIC is of the view that there is a high possibility that it will issue match-fixing charges arising from the ongoing investigations, potentially including against players sanctioned today."

To fall foul of ESIC's anti-corruption rules means players have either bet "on matches in ESIC member events", bet "on an individual's own matches in ESIC member events", or bet "against an individual's own team in ESIC member events".

ESIC issues sanctions against 35 players for betting related offences & extends bans for 2 players previously sanctioned in October 2020.

ESIC will continue to investigate further offences in Australia, NA and Europe in cooperation with law enforcement.
(1/2) pic.twitter.com/KgVudv0d9t

— ESIC (@ESIC_Official) January 22, 2021

Sanctions include extending the exclusions of two players that had already been subjected to bans following a similar investigation concluded last October; Akram 'ADK' Smida, formerly of Rooster, saw his one-year ban doubled to two, while Darly 'Mayker' May, formerly of Ground Zero, saw his one-year expulsion tripled to three (thanks, PCGN).

Matthew 'Jam' Castro, Alvin 'Gravinz' Changgra, and Wilson 'willyKS' Sugianto have all been subjected to the maximum penalty of five-year bans for the most egregious rule violations.

ESIC adds that it has "referred the matter in its entirety to law enforcement for investigation", and adds that a number of "non-player associates" have also been caught "in adverse betting behaviours" and have been also referred for further investigation.