No, we’re not talking energy drinks. Alex Walker, the director of the World Cyber Games Tournament not only acknowledges the idea of illicit substances in gaming, he knew that people were taking them at his tournament. Rather than steroids, though, gamers in tournaments are far more likely to be taking hits of marijuana or amphetamines.

It’s funny because it’s true. I know a lot of people through games that take drugs, although that’s not related to gaming. It’s more a social thing. But get any large group of people together, add drugs, and someone’s bound to push the limit.

He went in to say that another player he knew took prescription ADD medication in order to increase his focus, as well as describing seeing many players at national-level tournaments coming in stoned. Legality of the substances aside, this is just as unethical as real athletes taking steroids (or other drugs). It gives one person an unfair advantage over others.

Being as loosely organized as gaming is, it’s not surprise that something like this happens. What surprised us, though, is the dismissal by those in charge. Perhaps if gaming tournaments become as serious as Korea’s Starcraft Tournaments we’ll start to see a little regulation.

[Slashdot]