Drug testing for Protea Teams.

In July 2015 the International Esports Federation, told WIRED.co.uk that the use of substances such as Adderall is "definitely" a problem in the field, and outlined its plans to address the problem in its tournaments. "Definitely, doping is a problem in esports, as any other existing sport". 

"Activities and performances can all be explained within the range of physiology, and as using the physiological approach, esports must be directly influenced by any doping activity in terms of performance".

IESF has worked vigorously to establish esports as a recognised sport alongside more conventional codes and has thus partnered with TAFISA and the IAAF in recent years, and has enjoyed much success. 

Since 2013, IESF has been recognised as the official signatory of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). 

IESF has thus also developed its own anti-doping regulations and conducted doping tests in line with the WADA Code and guidelines.

Many since 2013 have been surprised when 'requested' to participate in the random testing procedure at IESF World Championships in Bucharest, Baku, Seoul, Jakarta and Busan.

South Africa,being a full member of IESF through Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA), has no intention of being caught-out or having any athlete fall foul of such testing at IESF's World Championships.

It is for the above reason that MSSA shall have mandatory drug testing at its National Team Trials.

Players who qualify for such Trials are requested to familiarize themselves with the WADA criteria, and those under medication, are requested to comply with the rules in regard to obtaining a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).

The bigger picture.

Time line of IESF's achievements.

With  esports sitting on the cusp of much greater things, there are still many gamers who do not see the full picture and only see a small segment.

The International Esports Federation (IESF) which was founded in 2008, has tirelessly worked away at having esports accredited as a sport by the main international controlling bodies.

Besides having organised and run World Championships consistently from 2009 through to 2017, IESF has had a number of important milestones with major sporting bodies like OCA, WADA, TAFISA, IAAF, and FISU.

Membership of IESF has shot up from the 8 original founding member federations in 2008 to 46 member federations.

Even the most major of private companies involved in esports, like ESL, openly backs the formation of national federations, please read: ESL helps found Germany’s Esports Association - eSport-Bund Deutschland (ESBD)

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is cognisant of the changes occurring on the world platform, MSSA has  been affiliated to IESF since 2009, and fully subscribes to IESF's long-term vision.

In my opinion so should every organisation involved in esports. From the smallest LAN and online championship operator, to the biggest.

The global vision expounded by IESF will benefit all, just as MSSA's efforts have done so in South Africa. Without MSSA having had esports accredited as a sport in 2005, would the current growth and benefits that are accruing be possible?

Esports is changing and evolving.

This is a great time to be involved.

A steady, onward progression.

Since those initial days in 2008 when the International e-Sports Federation (IeSF) was formed in 2008, few could have imagined just how far, and how much, IeSF would come, and achieve.

The founding fathers, of course, had faith in having an international  controlling body that would be able to guide the development of esports and bring out  effective programmes that would in the long term protect the players.

IeSF through its strong volunteer base  has promoted esports  to an unheard of level where such sport has been accepted into the more traditional sporting fraternity.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is proud to be a member, and MSSA is convinced that  its membership will produce long-term results  that will benefit all gamers who go the accredited sporting route.

Markus Koskivirta, IeSF's first chairperson of IeSF's Referees' Commission.

Markus Koskivirta (on left) witnessing the Athletes' Oath at IeSF's 8th World Championships - Jakarta.

 International e-Sports Federation (IeSF) elected Markus Sakari Koskivirta (Finland), as the Chairperson of IeSF’s Referee Commission in June 2017.

             Starting his referee career in 2009, Markus Koskivirta has successfully held various positions as a top class referee. Markus was selected as, and held, the position of head referee of IeSFs 8th Esports World Championship.

"I'm very thankful for this opportunity to ensure the high quality of IeSF World Championship now and in the future. The Rules and Regulations used for competitions are what make a tournament reliable and ensure an even ‘playing field’ for all participants. In addition to guaranteeing the integrity of the World Championship I believe the Commission can benefit other esports operatives by creating a standardized set of rules and guidelines for use openly and around the world. I'm personally looking forward to starting the work in collaboration with the members of the Commission as soon as possible.” said Markus Koskivirta, the new Chairperson of IeSF’s Referee Commission.

             IeSF’s Referee Commission will be focusing on the management of competition regulations for its Esports World Championships. It will also have input on the criteria for venues, regulations for equipment, to allow esports athletes to play in a standardized environment. The commission shall also establish a training system to educate potential esports referees in relation to the International Esports Academy. Such training of referees is designed to support esports athletes once their gaming careers have ended.

             “IeSF is very pleased to appoint Mr. Koskivirta as the Chair” said Alex Lim, Secretary General of IeSF. “With his expertise, IeSF trusts that the new referee commission will be a milestone for standardizing the international esports scene, which is also one of the core mission of IeSF. We will continue enhance the esports ecosystem and create more values for the welfare of esports athletes for the better of esports and protection of players.”

Move over Chad le Clos, eSports is coming!

The International e-Sports Federation (IeSF) has taken its first step towards the recognition of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

IeSF has submitted to IOC the “Official Letter of Request” on February 19^th to make its first action to attain the recognition, followed by an answer on April 8^th, by IOC, explaining the detailed procedure and next steps the federation should take. IeSF will submit all related documents for the recognition process and will undergo its first evaluation in December this year.

For the past years, IeSF has been working hard to increase its collaboration with various international sports society members to leverage e-sport into the sports sector. In 2013, it became the official signatory of WADA (World Anti Doping Agency), and also worked togather with OCA (Olympic Council of Asia) by managing the e-Sport event during the tournament. It has also been a member of TAFISA (The Association for International Sports for All) since 2014, and will be hosting the 8^th e-Sports World Championship in October during the 2016 World Sports for All Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. Last year in 2015, IeSF has signed an official Partnership agreement with IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations), being connected to one oldest and profound organizations in the sports sector.

IeSF will be taking part in the SportAccord Convention next week, from April 18^th – 22^nd , to take further steps in the sports society. IeSF Secretary General Alex Lim, will be officially participating in the panel discussion during the convention conference program, to increase awareness of e-sports in the international sports society and also portray its official recognition as a sport.

“IeSF is currently working hard to receive SportAccord membership, and simultaneously taking an additional challenge this year to take its steps for IOC recognition” said Byung Hun Jun, President of IeSF. “We still have many tasks to cover and this will be indeed a difficult challenge. Nevertheless, we will keep on driving our forces for e-sports to become an official sport and also care for the welfare of e-sport athletes. This challenge can be successfully completed with the continuous support from our e-sport fans, Athletes, game companies, and partners working together in the e-sports industry”

2016 will be an exciting and challenging year for IeSF. IeSF will continue to develop the “IeSF e-Sports Academy”, manage the e-sports event during 2016 World Sports for All Games, and also work with its utmost strength to be recognized by IOC and attain SportAccord Membership.

The importance of the IAAF and IeSF partnership.

For a number of years, there has been a fair amount of speculation that certain games would make it into the Olympics. The most speculated about game titles in this regard are none other than League of Legends and StarCraft. (http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngaudiosi/2012/08/15/league-of-legends-and-starcraft-ii-could-become-olympic-sports-as-early-as-2020-summer-games/).

Of course what a lot of the writers have glossed over is the way that the IOC works.

The IOC does not adopt events into the Olympic Games - that is not their way of doing things at all.

The way the IOC works is to allow member bodies to affiliate to the IOC. It is these international federations that control and administer the events that are then accepted into the Olympic Games.

Thus if rugby is ever accepted as a sport for the Summer Olympic Games, it will be the International Rugby Board that is first accepted as a member into the IOC before the game is accepted. Thus, it stands to reason that the IRB will assume full control over the conduct of the game at the Olympic Games as much as what FINA does for Aquatics, and the IAAF does for Athletics.

Thus, in order to get eSports into the Olympic Games, it is NOT the game title that will be accepted by the the IOC, but instead the international controlling body.

And who is the international controlling body?

Why, it is the International eSports Federation (IeSF)!

Such is the importance of the partnership between the IeSF and the IAAF.

Obviously the IAAF wants a 'fresher' appearance among its target market, but, at the same time, there is no doubt that the IAAF has realised the number of gamers that the IeSF reaches, as well as too realising that the IeSF is the international controlling body.

The fact that the IAAF recognises the IeSF paves the the way for many new opportunities for the IeSF and its members.

The recognition allows eSports to be seen as a valid sport, and why not, since the IOC itself has recognised mind sports as sports since 1999 (http://www.iol.co.za/news/back-page/judge-ends-game-of-bridge-confusion-1.1851440)?

Thus it seems as though the partnership will spawn a number of positive outcomes for eSports.

Of course those that will benefit the most will be members, so, if you are not a member, get on board quickly as the train is beginning to pull out of the station....

The IeSF partners with the IAAF

The International e-Sports Federation (IeSF) has announced a partnership of cooperation exchange between e-Sports and athletics, as signing partnership MOU with the “Athletics for a Better World” powered by International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) at the Sochi EXPO Centre, the venue of the 2015 Sport Accord Convention in Sochi, Russia on April 21, 2015. IAAF is an international sports federation which retains 214 member nations with more than 100 years of history.

Athletics for a Better World has offered the partnership to IeSF on account of possibility and vision of e-Sports as official sports with high popularity among young generation and its rapid growth. IeSF Board has approved such partnership with a positive consideration on the proposal from them.

IeSF became an official signatory of WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) in 2013, and recognized by TAFISA (The Association for International Sports for All) in 2014. And at this moment, partnership with IAAF will enhance IeSF’s status as official international sports federation. This is the first time for IeSF to have partnership with other sports discipline. As starting with Athletics which has the largest number of member nations and athletes, IeSF will continuously cooperate with many sports disciplines and international sports governing bodies. This effort will bridge the gap between traditional sports and e-Sports.

Through this partnership, IeSF will participate in “Athletics for Better World” program powered by IAAF which is to deliver a positive contribution in the areas of health, environment, social inclusion and peace through athletics. IeSF is planning to actively promote soundness of athletics, and promote health and e-Sports activities to all e-Sports member nations and e-Sports fans.

Moreover Athletics for a Better World, whose ambassadors include former Olympians Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Paula Radcliffe and Wilson Kipketer, will look to develop training plans and fitness programmes to help professional and recreational gamers alike perform at the highest levels. The IeSF will also benefit from the IAAF’s knowledge as a governing body with over a 100 years’ experience. There they will develop plans for the future of their partnership including live demonstration workshops with some of the world’s top professional gamers, as well as Olympic athletes who have all expressed a love of computer games, such as Aries Merritt (USA, Gold medal list in 2012 London Olympics men’s 100m hurdles), Warren Weir (Jamaica, Bronze medalist in 2012 London Olympics men’s 200m race) and Christian Taylor (USA, Gold medalist in 2012 London Olympics men’s triple jump).

Mr. Nick Davies, the Deputy General Secretary of IAAF addressed, “As the number one Olympic sport we

Nick Davies (IAAF) & Alex Lim (IeSF)

are always looking at new ways and new means of technology to help engage young people and encourage them to take up athletics. E-Sports is one of the fastest growing sports in the world and we’re delighted to become the first governing body to partner with the IeSF. We look forward to a prosperous relationship and can’t wait to start working on new and exciting opportunities together”

IeSF president, Mr. Byung Hun Jun said “This partnership will definitely enhance the status of IeSF within the international sports society, and it is a reflection that international sports society is continuously paying attention on e-Sports. By showing soundness of e-Sports and continuous exchange with international sports society, IeSF will keep endeavor to make the e-Sports to be recognized as official sports.

▶ About IeSF

The International e-Sports Federation (IeSF) is an International Governing Body for e-Sports, established in 2008. Currently IeSF consists of 43 National Federations, who are approved by governments in their countries. As e-Sports has been regarding as one of potential Sport disciplines, many of National Sport Authorities such as Ministry of Sport and National Olympic Committees have been recognise such National e-Sports Federations, as official Sport Governing Body.

Since 2009, IeSF has been hosting e-Sports World Championship every year. More than 400 people from all of IeSF National Federations and more countries participate in the event, as National Athletes approved by their government. All broadcasting contents are delivered to all around the world through online streaming platforms, with more than 2 million viewerships.

The IeSF also cooperates with various International Sport Bodies. IeSF manages and operates e-Sports event in Multi Sports Events in the world. Also IeSF has been approved as one of the official signatories of World Anti-Doping Agency in 2013. After approval, IeSF has been conducted doping test for every event, like other sports with IeSF’s own Anti-Doping code. In 2014, IeSF was approved as an International member of TAFISA (The association For International Sport for All), and will manage e-Sports program in 2016 TAFISA World Sport for All Games.

With rapid growth of e-Sports, IeSF is aiming for being affiliated in SportAccord. Regarding perceptions toward e-Sports from National Sport Authorities, it is expected that e-Sports can be admitted as one of official sport discipline in near future, with the recognition of IeSF by SportAccord.

▶ About the IAAF
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) which was created in 1912 is the world governing and rule making body for Athletics, the Olympics’ number one sport. Today the IAAF encompasses track and field, race walking, road, cross country and mountain running. Boasting 214 national Member Federations, spread across 6 continental Areas, it has a global reach greater than that of the United Nations.

The IAAF World Athletics Series of events has as its pinnacle the biennial IAAF World Championships. The championships’ nine days of competition attract 2000 athletes from more than 200 countries and are broadcast to an accumulated 6 billion TV audience worldwide, making them the world’s third largest sporting event after the Olympic Games and football’s World Cup.

In 2015, there will be three IAAF World Athletics Series events plus the second edition of the innovative IAAF World Relays in The Bahamas. As a true reflection of the global nature of Athletics, these competitions will be held on three different continents.  The season will climax from 22 to 30 August at the IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015, which take place in and around the ‘Bird’s Nest’, the Chinese capital’s Olympic stadium.

▶ About ABW
Athletics for a Better World (ABW) powered by IAAF is the global social responsibility programme of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Launched in April 2014, ABW brings together individuals, projects and organisations committed to using athletics as a tool for social and sustainable development. The ABW mark is available to all athletics-led initiatives that deliver a positive contribution in the areas of health, environment, social inclusion and peace.