NaVi players sanctioned for using Snus in VCT Champions 2023

While it is true that the esports ecosystem has tried to stay as far away as possible from anything that has to do with drugs or stimulants in official tournaments, there are always teams or players who want to break the rules.

In this opportunity, we have NaVi, a team currently playing in the VCT Champions 2023, and that, after their loss to DRX in the Winners Match of Group D, will be playing for their lives in their next match to qualify for the playoffs. However, this is not what set off the alarm bells in the tournament, as, after this loss to DRX, Erik “d00mbr0s” Sandgren, NaVi’s Head Coach, revealed that the team was sanctioned in the first match of the series for using banned substances on stage.

NaVi players were caught consuming Snus in the middle of the game

Right now, the Tweet of d00mbr0s has been completely deleted from social networks, but, as usual, there is always evidence of everything uploaded online. In that no longer exists tweet, the NaVi coach said that one of his timeouts was canceled because one player was caught consuming Snus in the match.

In another post on Twitter, specifically a response to this deleted Tweet, a user shared a video where we can observe NaVi’s IGL, Kyrylo “ANGE1” Karasov, consuming Snus in the middle of a match. As a result, Riot Games took action to apply an immediate sanction.

pic.twitter.com/CEzHLu1eEB

— NAVI Neim (@neimkomm) August 8, 2023

According to the VALORANT Champions Tour regulations, only league-approved beverages and chewing gum are allowed on the stages. However, food, tobacco, and other items, such as electronic cigarettes, are prohibited on the stage.

But what is Snus?

For those who don’t know, Snus is a smokeless, moist form of tobacco. This substance is stored in a small pouch (similar to tea bags) and placed under the upper lip for consumption.

In other words, this is an alternative way for people today to use tobacco. In addition, this “new” tobacco has gradually gained popularity in the professional esports gaming community. Currently, many League of Legends EMEA players use Snuns to “relieve” the “pressure” generated by the crowd on the tournament stage.

The truth is that after this incident with ANGE1, the rest of the players should be aware that they cannot consume Snuns in any VALORANT face-to-face tournament. In addition, several professional players have taken this as a mockery, as Saif “Sayf” Jibraeel of Team Liquid and Chet Singh, Head Coach of NRG, have opined about it on their social networks.

What about cigarettes I have about three packs for tomorrow

— NRG Chet (@chetsingh) August 8, 2023

The reality is that players need to focus on playing their games and getting wins. In NaVi’s case, they must play the last match of the Group Stage against the winner between Team Liquid and LOUD to qualify for the VALORANT Champions 2023 playoffs.

Header: NaVi | Riot Games