On June 19, 2025, the International Esports Federation put out news that Arslan Ash, one of the top Tekken players, got punished for using steroids.
The story came out quietly at first. But by early July, fans in the fighting game world started talking about it. Many wondered why it took so long to tell everyone.
The IESF said Arslan broke anti-doping rules at the 2022 World Esports Championship. He tested positive for steroids on December 10 that year.
The banned stuff included 19-norandrosterone, 19-noretiocholanolone, stanozolol leftovers, and metandienone leftovers. These are not allowed by the World Anti-Doping Association, or WADA.
Because of this, the IESF gave Arslan a two-year ban. It runs from April 26, 2023, to April 25, 2025. They took away all his wins, medals, points, prize money, and titles from the 2022 World Esports Championship. That includes anything from events between December 10, 2022, and April 26, 2023.
This wipes out his good showings at Evo Japan 2023, Evo Las Vegas 2023 and 2024, and the 2023 Tekken World Tour Finals in New Orleans.
Fans in the fighting game community were confused. Steroids are not known to help gamers much, unlike drugs such as Adderall.
Esports Integrity Commission Questions Arslan Ash’s Ban
The IESF decision spread fast online. Soon, the Esports Integrity Commission shared its own words with Esports Advocate on July 2.
The group said it does not have to back up, agree with, or follow the IESF’s punishment. They pointed out that WADA bans do not fit esports because it is so different from regular sports.
Without a science-based way to fight doping in esports, problems with fair play will happen, as this case shows. ESIC sticks to a fair, proof-based system for anti-doping. They urge everyone to use their tested methods.
Arslan Ash is seen as one of the best Tekken players ever.
Arslan has now explained what happened. He says he took the stuff that tested positive without knowing or agreeing to it.
A trainer offered him what he called supplements to help faster. Arslan trusted him and paid about PKR 60,000, not knowing it had banned items.
At the end of 2022, after winning at IESF, he got tested. That is when he learned the truth: the supplements had banned sports drugs. It was the first time he knew.
Arslan says he stopped using them right away when he found out. Also, these performance drugs follow old sports rules, but they do not give much edge in gaming contests.
His team, Twisted Minds, spoke against the ban. They say the list of banned steroids is for regular sports, not esports. They plan to keep working with him.
Arslan’s career comes from skill, love for the game, and hard work. We are glad he is with Twisted Minds and will keep backing him, they said
.
Arslan Ash is among the top pros in Tekken history. He put Pakistan on the map by winning Evo Japan and Evo Las Vegas in 2019. Since then, he has five Evo wins and took the Tekken World Tour in 2023.
