COMPETITIVE RULING: LEAH “TAFFS” BEASLEY

Aug 19, 2022

TL;DR: Leah “Taffs” Beasley violated the VALORANT Champions Tour Global Competition Policy by making offensive and insulting comments during a VALORANT Champions Tour Game Changers Academy match. Consequently, Taffs is banned from any association or affiliation with a team in a Riot-sanctioned competition for three months, beginning from the date of the latest violation to September 24th, 2022.

CONTEXT

VALORANT players and coaches involved in Riot-sanctioned leagues must abide by Section 7 of the VALORANT Champions Tour Global Competition Policy (“Global Policy”), which prohibits the use of any offensive and/or discriminatory language during online VALORANT events.

TIMELINE

On June 24, Dart Monkeys played Desire Rising Esports in an official VALORANT Champions Tour Game Changers Academy (“GCA”) match. Taffs, then a member of Desire Rising Esports, used offensive and insulting language in the chat lobby, including the use of a transphobic meme. Desire Rising Esports proceeded to forfeit the match out of solidarity with Dart Monkeys. Desire Rising Esports dropped on the same day.

During the course of investigation, Riot investigators i) reviewed screenshots of the alleged violations, ii) analyzed audio recordings of the communications on the side of Desire Rising Esports before and after the alleged violations and iii) conducted interviews with involved parties. Following the opening of formal proceedings, Taffs submitted a statement, which was taken into consideration by Riot’s investigators.

RULING

Leah “Taffs” Beasley made multiple offensive and insulting comments during an official GCA match. This is a violation of Rule 7.3.1 of the VALORANT Champions Tour Global Competition Policy. Taffs is banned from any association or affiliation with a team in a Riot-sanctioned competition for three months, beginning from the date of the latest violation and ending on September 24, 2022.

RELEVANT RULES

VALORANT Champions Tour Global Competition Policy
Section 7.3.1: Vulgar or Hateful Speech

A Team Member may not, during a Live Event, Online Event, Media Event or in any communication relating to any Official Competition or VALORANT, use any language that is offensive, insulting, libelous, slanderous, defamatory, obscene, discriminatory, threatening, foul or vulgar. A Team Member may not post, transmit, or disseminate any such prohibited communications. A Team Member may not use this type of language on social media or during any public-facing events or in any broadcast or stream of VALORANT. This rule applies to speech in English and all other languages. In addition, Team Members may not encourage members of the public to engage in any activities that are prohibited by this rule.