The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has announced a four-year ban for Ukrainian player nifee following a detailed investigation into match manipulation and betting-related corruption.
The incidents relate to matches played by Inner Circle at ESL Pro League Season 22, where suspicious in-game patterns were identified — including repeated deaths to molotovs and incendiary grenades that coincided with unusual spikes in betting on specific in-game events. According to ESIC, these bets were placed from newly created or previously dormant accounts with high-value stakes, exceeding the expected market baseline.
The investigation also revealed abnormal in-game decision-making that did not align with standard competitive behavior — including instances where the player appeared to deliberately expose himself to damage without clear purpose. Initially, nifee denied any wrongdoing, but later admitted to the violations and cooperated with the investigation, which resulted in his ban being reduced from five to four years.
The suspension will run from October 21, 2025, to October 20, 2029, and prohibits the player from participating in all ESIC member events.
As a reminder, ENCE have promoted their academy roster to the main lineup