COMPETITIVE RULING: ALEX “DSYLEXIC" LUONG AND JENNIFER “NABIICHU” CHOE

Feb 8, 2023

TL;DR: Alex “Dsylexic” Luong and Jennifer “nabiichu” Choe violated the VALORANT Champions Tour Game Changers Rule Set by misleading Tournament Officials with regards to Dsylexic’s gender eligibility and, in Dsylexic’s case, violating gender eligibility requirements. Furthermore, Dsylexic violated the VALORANT Champions Tour Global Competition Policy by using a prohibited third party program to cheat during Competitive matches and against CLG Red. Consequently, Dsylexic is banned from any association or affiliation with a team in a Riot-sanctioned competition for eight years, beginning from the date of the latest violation to October 8th, 2030. Nabiichu is banned from any association or affiliation with a team in a Riot-sanctioned competition for five years, beginning from the date of the latest violation to October 8th, 2027.

CONTEXT

VALORANT players and coaches involved in Riot-sanctioned leagues must abide by Section 7 of the VALORANT Champions Tour Global Competition Policy (“VCT Global Policy”), which prohibits the use of any offensive and/or discriminatory language during online VALORANT events. They must also abide by Section 3 of the VALORANT Champions Tour Game Changers (“VCT Game Changers”) Rule Set, which stipulates gender eligibility requirements and prohibits misleading Tournament Officials with regards to gender eligibility.

TIMELINE

On October 8, 2022, EQ Cerise played CLG Red in an official VCT Game Changers match. EQ Cerise were allowed an emergency substitute for the match. Dsylexic, who identifies as he/him, reached out to nabiichu, then a member of EQ Cerise, and offered to mislead officials by changing his gender-identity to one of a nonbinary player in order to play against CLG Red. Nabiichu agreed and assisted Dsylexic by supporting his gender-identity as nonbinary to EQ Cerise and to Tournament Officials.

During the match itself, the Riot Anti-Cheat team detected Dsylexic’s usage of a prohibited third party program. Upon further investigation, the Riot Anti-Cheat Team found multiple instances of Dsylexic cheating during Competitive matches. On October 9, VCT Game Changers officials disqualified EQ Cerise due to Dsylexic’s usage of a prohibited third party program. On October 10, Dsylexic made a public statement in which they denied cheating during the match, but admitted to faking a non-binary identity with nabiichu’s help in order to participate in VCT Game Changers.

During the course of investigation, Riot investigators reviewed screenshots of the alleged violations and Anti-Cheat data over a significant period of time. Following the opening of formal proceedings, Riot investigators attempted to source statements from Dsylexic and nabiichu, neither of whom responded.

RULING

VCT Game Changers is a program designed to provide additional exposure and opportunities for women and other marginalized genders within VALORANT esports. Circumvention of gender eligibility rules directly damages VCT Game Changers and its ability to provide a fair playing field. Riot investigators did not find any aggravating or mitigating factors during the course of investigation.

Alex “Dsylexic” Luong breached the gender eligibility requirements set out in Rule 3.1 of the VCT Game Changers Rule Set. Dsylexic and Jennifer “nabiichu” Choe misled Tournament Officials with regards to Dsylexic’s gender identity and thus breached Rule 3.9 of the VCT Game Changers Rule Set. Dsylexic employed prohibited third party tools in order to cheat in multiple matches. This is a violation of Rule 7.2.5 of the VCT Global Policy. Due to the severe nature of his violations, Dsylexic is banned from any association or affiliation with a team in a Riot-sanctioned competition for eight years, beginning from the date of the latest violation and ending on October 8th, 2030. Nabiichu is banned from any association or affiliation with a team in a Riot-sanctioned competition for five years, beginning from the date of the latest violation and ending on October 8th, 2027.

RELEVANT RULES

VALORANT Champions Tour Game Changers Rule Set

Section 3.1: Team Members Gender
All players on a Team’s Roster must be women or of marginalized genders.

Section 3.9: Eligibility Vouching
…If a Player participating in a Game Changers event is determined, at the sole discretion of Tournament Officials, to have misled the Tournament Operator with regard to these Team Member Eligibility requirements, all Team members on the Player's Team may be sanctioned.

VALORANT Champions Tour Global Competition Policy

Section 7.2.5: Cheating
Cheating is prohibited. Any modification of the VALORANT game client by a Team or Team Member is prohibited. The use of any kind of cheating device or cheat program shall be deemed cheating.