In the course of the Valorant Champions, a small scandal occurred during a NAVI match. A player was caught ingesting an illegal substance and was punished accordingly
NAVI coach Erik “d00mbr0s” Sandgren revealed in a tweet, now no longer viewable online, that Kyrylo “ANGE1″ Karasov was penalized or given a verbal warning by officials for using snus while still in the first map. In fact, Valorant’s rulebook states that only drinks are allowed on stage. Other substances such as food or tobacco-containing foods, however, are prohibited, which includes consumption.
cNed + Operator = Pure Magic VALORANTChampions pic.twitter.com/ls444fkmsB
– NAVI Valorant (@NAVIValorant) August 7, 2023
Tobacco pillow as cigarette alternative
Snus is a small tobacco-filled pillow, similar to a tea bag, that users slip under their upper lip. The product itself is an alternative to typical cigarettes, but contains many times the tobacco value. In fact, snus is not unheard of. As reported by colleagues at Dot Esports, the cigarette alternative is also popular among League of Legends players, who use it to help them deal with the pressure and stress that comes with being a pro, among other things.
NAVI itself faces the decider match this coming Saturday, the outcome of which will determine whether the Ukrainian-born eSports organization will continue to compete in the tournament or have to head home early.
