Doping in Esports

[Alex Simmons/RST]

Last night there was a story aired on Australian TV (ABC's 7.30 report) about the rise of Esports.

And already they have had match fixing and doping problems and sanctions.

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2015/s4362998.htm

The rate of progression of such emerging "sports" reminds me of the way developing nations go through an economic development cycle in a 10th of the time that developed countries did. This "sport" didn't exist all that long ago, yet already has a doping problem.

Other things of note - they make significant proportion of money from spectators, both online and via filling up empty cinemas showing live stream of games. Already surpassed the money involved in pro cycling, and is way more profitable.

What can the sport of cycling learn from this, to ensure future viability and relevance?

 

[blackcat]

Last night there was a story aired on Australian TV (ABC's 7.30 report) about the rise of Esports.

And already they have had match fixing and doping problems and sanctions.

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2015/s4362998.htm

The rate of progression of such emerging "sports" reminds me of the way developing nations go through an economic development cycle in a 10th of the time that developed countries did. This "sport" didn't exist all that long ago, yet already has a doping problem.

Other things of note - they make significant proportion of money from spectators, both online and via filling up empty cinemas showing live stream of games. Already surpassed the money involved in pro cycling, and is way more profitable.

What can the sport of cycling learn from this, to ensure future viability and relevance?

I think a zero sum sport market will be segregated into the individual sport WINNERs and LOSERs and the market increasingly fragmented and atomised. I think Test Cricket will struggle to stay relevant in a modern world on the subcontinent, it could always anchor leisure and sport consumption in England/Australia in the 20C when the church/work/leisure had narrow options. But all sports will compete for the same pie, and as such, a zero sum competition, you will be pulling market share off the big few sports in each country.

I think cycling will struggle over this century to be a major player out of the Olympic Sports that have a professional crossover. I think the purity of T&F will hold an anchor, and swimming also. I think cycling will continue to cede share and relevance.

the last three decades may have arbitrarily given cycling more catchment, attracting more athletes from a wider pool. But unless they find a new market of competitors in Asia and Africa for instance, they will struggle to bring the new riders online.