The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has placed a temporary suspension on the Russian-based esports team which is Team SENZA and also known as Rosy. The suspension comes as ESIC begins an investigation into possible violations of its Anti-Corruption Code and Code of Conduct.

The suspension is a preventive step and does not mean that the team has been found guilty of any wrongdoing. ESIC stated that Team SENZA will not be allowed to take part in any ESIC Member Events or tournaments that operate under the ESIC Integrity Program until further notice.

According to the commission, the investigation will focus on issues such as betting-related misconduct, use of prohibited outside information, and account-sharing or identity irregularities. All players, coaches, and staff have been notified and given time to respond with any evidence or explanation.

Background on Team SENZA

Team SENZA is a Russian esports team that competes in several games, mainly Rocket League. The team was previously known under another name before being acquired by SENZA Esports last year.

Esports is a competitive gaming industry that has been growing quickly across the world. The growth came with an increase in betting on matches, especially among younger audiences such as Gen Z. Moritz Maurer, an expert who spoke at the SiGMA Euro-Med event in Malta, explained that esports gives fans more frequent opportunities to place bets compared to traditional sports.

ESIC’s Role and Authority

ESIC is responsible for keeping esports competitions fair and free from corruption. The organization’s Integrity Program aims to prevent problems such as match-fixing, illegal betting, and the sharing of restricted information during games.

However, ESIC’s authority is somewhat limited. It cannot force all tournaments to follow its decisions. Instead, it asks event organizers who are part of its network or who have adopted its Integrity Program to respect and apply the suspension.

At this stage, ESIC has not outlined what specific actions it might take if the investigation proves that any of the alleged breaches are true. The commission also has not given a clear timeline for when the investigation will be completed. It has only confirmed that a public statement will be released once a final decision is made.

Next Steps and Future Updates

The temporary suspension means Team SENZA will not be able to compete in major esports tournaments for now. The team and its members have a chance to respond and share their side of the story before ESIC makes its final judgment.

Earlier this week, ESIC also announced that Betby has joined as its newest Tier 1 Anti-Corruption Partner, showing its continued commitment to maintaining integrity within esports.

For now, the esports community will be watching closely to see how the investigation unfolds and what consequences may follow if any misconduct is proven.