ESL has announced that it will lift the indefinite match-fixing bans placed on players before February 15 of 2015, which include those of the ex-iBUYPOWER team.

The move follows ESL's decision to update its tournament rules in conformity with the suggestions from the Esports Integrity Coalition (ESIC), which conducted a survey with over 7,000 participants to learn the community's opinion on the appropriate sanctions for cases of cheating, match-fixing and doping.

As part of the process, ESL held talks with professional players at ESL One Cologne to discuss their views on this matter.

ex-iBP will be allowed to play in ESL tournaments

Tournament rules for all ESL and ESEA tournaments, from the ESL Pro League and IEM to the amateur competitions, will be updated on August 1. All match-fixing bans preceding February 15, 2015, will be lifted, with the decision affecting the former iBUYPOWER and Epsilon teams.

"Whilst the players are clearly culpable and should have known better, the rules surrounding this sort of activity were not clear at the time, no education had been provided to the players and the procedures used to sanction them were not transparent and did not comply with principles of natural justice," ESIC notes.

In a statement, ESL Senior Vice President Ulrich Schulze stressed that these bans will still be applied should ESL host a tournament together with Valve, such as a Minor or a Major.

From August 1, ESL and ESEA will adopt the following rules for first-time offenders:

Cheating : Disqualification from the tournament, results voided, forfeiture of prize money, ban between 2 year and lifetime depending on age and level of player and nature/size of tournament and how the player cheated. Cheating at a competition played above an amateur level (i.e. where significant prize pool is involved, or a qualification for a professional event is at stake) should normally result in a 5 year ban, but, in aggravating circumstances, can result in a lifetime ban.

: Disqualification from the tournament, results voided, forfeiture of prize money, ban between 2 year and lifetime depending on age and level of player and nature/size of tournament and how the player cheated. Cheating at a competition played above an amateur level (i.e. where significant prize pool is involved, or a qualification for a professional event is at stake) should normally result in a 5 year ban, but, in aggravating circumstances, can result in a lifetime ban. Match-Fixing/betting fraud: Results voided, 5 year ban unless significant mitigating factors in line with the ESIC Anti-Corruption Code or, in the presence of aggravating circumstances, a longer ban, forfeiture of prize money and monetary fine (if discovered before the end of a tournament, disqualification).

Results voided, 5 year ban unless significant mitigating factors in line with the ESIC Anti-Corruption Code or, in the presence of aggravating circumstances, a longer ban, forfeiture of prize money and monetary fine (if discovered before the end of a tournament, disqualification). Doping by using performance-enhancing substances : Results voided, ban of between 1 and 2 years, forfeiture of prize money (if discovered before the end of a tournament, disqualification).

: Results voided, ban of between 1 and 2 years, forfeiture of prize money (if discovered before the end of a tournament, disqualification). Competition manipulation and bribery: Results voided, ban of between 1 and 2 years, forfeiture of prize money and monetary fine (if discovered before the end of a tournament, disqualification).

For repeat offences, players should face "far harsher sanctions", and, in the cases of cheating or match-fixing, a potential lifetime ban from esports, ESL added.

Thank you to everyone who fought for us and argued upon our behalfs. I really doubt without you guys that this would have been possible. 🙏 — Sam M (@GODaZeD) July 24, 2017

Woke up to some good news. Now it's time to prepare. 😏👊 — Braxton Pierce (@C9swag) July 24, 2017