Arslan Ash was unfairly banned from a Tekken 7 tournament for an absurd reason back in 2022. The news only came to light after the International Esports Federation (IESF) shared an official statement on their website a few weeks ago, revealing the nearly 3-year-old ban, which has now been lifted.
Why Was He Banned?
IESF had sanctioned the Pakistani Tekken legend for using steroids in a 2022 doping test, a test which was not even designed for e-sports players, but athletes. Arslan tested positive for several steroids in this test, including 19-norandrosterone, 19-noretiocholanolone, stanozolol metabolites, and metandienone metabolites.
These are well-known anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) typically used by bodybuilders to gain muscle mass and physical strength, but offer no advantage for competitive gaming.
Why the Ban Made No Sense
Steroids like those Arslan tested positive for do not enhance reaction time, mental focus, precision, or strategic decision-making—all of which are needed in competitive gaming. In fact, side effects from such substances, including anxiety, mood swings, and poor sleep, may ruin gaming performance instead.
In contrast, substances like Adderall or Modafinil, which enhance cognitive sharpness and reflexes, are far more commonly used in competitive esports and often overlooked.
Arslan’s Comments
Arslan Ash clarified to ProPakistani that the substances he used were “strictly for bodybuilding purposes” during the COVID era, when tournaments were suspended globally.
He said:
I wasn’t aware these drugs were banned in esports. I was never using them for any kind of advantage in gaming. Once I learned about their risks and the anti-doping rules, I stopped using them completely.
He also revealed that the testing protocols used by IESF were designed for physical athletes, not esports professionals.
The Good News
Thankfully, none of this has hindered Arslan’s ability to participate and compete in Tekken tournaments around the globe. He has been able to join and win numerous other major titles since 2022, including his continued win streak at EVO. He is currently a five-time Evo champion and will hopefully continue to win.
If anything, this news confirms that Arslan has had no unfair advantage over his competition in Tekken tournaments.
Photo credit: Shannadesu
they banned him because they were afraid that he will win again here. ProPakistani should raise awareness about Pakistan tekken scene as pakistan is the best tekken region in the world. these stars
should get attention of public
Can you at least credit me for the photo?
I’m Shanna M.
Twitter: @shannadesu
Instagram: @shannadesu.fgc
Shannadesu.com
done