Anti-doping policy in esports

Aim. This study examines the legal framework governing anti-doping policy in e-sports, with the aim of identifying regulatory challenges in enforcing anti-doping code compliance among esports athletes. Materials and methods. The research design incorporates doctrinal legal analysis of international and Russian regulation governing esports, current anti-doping regulations, and jurisdictional boundaries of doping control mechanisms. This paper contributes to conceptual taxonomy development to operationalize esports within established sports classification systems. The methodological framework combines general scientific methods and specialized legal methods. Results. The study examines legal approaches to developing anti-doping policies in esports and phygital sports, identifies key challenges in this domain, and reveals specific characteristics of monitoring compliance with anti-doping regulations and enforcing accountability for violations. Conclusion. The rapid development of esports necessitates prompt legislative response, requiring sport-specific legal frameworks and enhanced anti-doping policies incorporating both medical criteria for prohibited substances and methods and technological restrictions. Systematic implementation of these measures will enable the proportionality of sanctions for anti-doping rule violations in esports, comprehensive prevention, and deterrence of doping practices.