In a surprise U-turn, the organisers of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Australia, have decided not to include esports as a medal event.
This comes following the successful hosting of esports as a pilot event at this year's Birmingham Games, co-funded by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and the Global Esports Federation (GEF).
According to BBC News, the 2026 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee has declined to explain the reasoning behind the U-turn despite repeated requests from the CGF and GEF.
An insider familiar with the matter told BBC News that doping in esports could have been a factor, as arranging year-long drugs testing across the various gaming titles would be problematic.
Another insider, meanwhile, said more traditional and older members of the Commonwealth Games nation groups were opposed to esports.
"Everything was looking great after Birmingham and it seemed like esports would make history in Victoria," another insider said.
"We have no idea why the committee rejected it, as they won't say. It's very disappointing."
Just like the scandals that have plagued traditional sports over the years, doping has become one of esports' primary integrity issues.
There have been many high-profile cases involving competitive gamers who consume nootropics and Adderall, which allow them to concentrate for longer periods of time in training and in competition.
While the CGF inked a long-term partnership agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency to ban Adderall from competition, none of the 100 gamers who competed at the 2022 pilot event was tested for drugs.
