ESL has issued a statement to shed some light on the recent changes to its policy regarding VAC bans on a professional level.

HLTV.org revealed on Thursday that ESL had decided to allow VAC-banned players to compete in the Pro League and at ESL One and IEM events, provided that at least two years have passed since the ban was issued.



VAC-banned players will be able to compete at ESL One events after two years

In a Twitlonger post, ESL explains that the change aims to "create consistency for all future bans across all platforms throughout CSGO", adding that players caught by its own anti-cheat technology (ESL Wire) have always been banned from its competitions for a period of two years.

"So that VAC bans can also be included in this consistent overall framework, we therefore recently updated our competitive rulebook to bring our treatment of them in line with these policies," ESL adds.

ESL has also reacted to accusations about adopting double standards in the disciplinary measures taken against VAC-banned players in comparison to players involved in match-fixing cases.

The Germany-based company acknowledges that implementing "consistent and meaningful punishment for integrity violations" remains an "extremely complex and multifaceted" issue, but stresses that it will sit down with relevant parties to review this topic.