**TL;DR:** James “Duoking1” Stephenson violated the League of Legends North American Challengers League Rule Set **(“[NACL Rules][1]”)** by repeatedly employing harmful, offensive, and vulgar language in-game, on a public Discord of over 700 users, and on public social media accounts. Duoking1 further violated the NACL Rules by publicly sharing confidential communications from Riot Games and making derogatory public comments towards its staff. Consequently, Duoking1 is banned from participation in any capacity in a Riot-sanctioned competition for two years, beginning from the date on which Duoking1 received a provisional suspension to July 31st, 2025.
[1]: https://cmsassets.rgpub.io/sanity/files/dsfx7636/news_live/4563b4630e0ca7173b320d8545807e1a2610ed09.pdf
**CONTEXT**
Players and coaches participating in the North American Challengers League and its associated Qualifiers must pass league-administered behavior checks in order to compete. All team members must abide by Section 11 of the NACL Rules, which prohibits the use of any offensive and/or discriminatory language in-game and out-of-game. Additionally, Section 11 forbids team members from making any statements or committing any action that may be detrimental to Riot Games. Section 11 also prevents any team member from disclosing confidential communications provided by Riot Games during an investigation.
**TIMELINE**
Duoking1 participated on Team E Turner during the NACL 2023 Summer Qualifier **(“Qualifier”)**. A league-administered behavior check on all players within the Qualifier flagged Duoking1’s disruptive behavior because of the repeated use of highly offensive language in-game. In addition, Riot Games received anonymous complaints according to which Duoking1 used alleged offensive, insulting, and denigrating language on various social media platforms. In view of the number and the severity of the allegations, Duoking1 was provisionally suspended on July 31st, 2023, so that Riot could take all the necessary steps to conduct an investigation and prevent further harm being caused by Duoking1 during said process.
Shortly after being informed of the provisional suspension and the opening of a formal investigation, Duoking1 publicly shared confidential information (notably the formal procedural letter which attached evidence containing sensitive information related to other individuals) on his Twitch stream. During said stream, Duoking invited his viewers to find the identity of the anonymous reporter, referred to Riot Games staff and the compiled evidence with derogatory language, and equated the enforcement of the NACL Rule Set to fascism.
The investigation revealed that Duoking1 owned and operated a public Discord server housing over 700 members on which Duoking1 repeatedly posted highly offensive and vulgar language, often directed at certain individuals. Moreover, the investigation revealed that Duoking1 displayed similar inappropriate behavior on his public Twitter account. Some examples include DuoKing1 using derogatory language in reference to the perceived mental acuity of multiple individuals, claiming another individual suffered from mental health issues due to the effects of domestic abuse, and supporting images insulting an individual’s appearance.
Throughout the course of the investigation, Riot Games reviewed i) Twitch stream clips, ii) screenshots of public Discord and Twitter posts and iii) in-game behavior logs. During the formal disciplinary proceedings, Duoking1 was granted an opportunity to state his case, which he did through written and oral statements. Duoking1’s statement was taken into consideration by Riot Games.
**RULING**
James “Duoking1” Stephenson repeatedly and publicly employed offensive and vulgar language to attack individuals through social media and through Discord, breaching Section 11.c.i of the NACL Rule Set. Duoking1 also failed a league-administered behavior check due to aggressive and inappropriate statements in-game, violating Section 11.c.ii of the NACL Rule Set. Duoking1 publicly shared confidential information pertaining to an ongoing investigation on his Twitch stream, breaching Section 11.e.v of the NACL Rule Set. On the same Twitch stream, Duoking1 made multiple statements that were offensive and derogatory towards Riot Games staff and the applicable processes, which constitutes a violation of Section 11.c.vii of the NACL Rule Set.
When assessing the appropriate sanction to be applied, Riot Games took into consideration all the aggravating and mitigating circumstances surrounding the case, as well as the duration of the provisional suspension already served by Duoking1. Due to the frequency and severity of his violations, Duoking1 is banned from participation in any capacity in a Riot-sanctioned competition for two years, beginning from the date on which Duoking1 received a provisional suspension to July 31st, 2025. Additionally, Duoking1 is warned that any further violations of Riot Games regulations may result in escalated penalties including a permanent ban from participation in any capacity in a Riot-sanctioned competition.
**RELEVANT RULES**
**North American Challengers League Rule Set**
**Section 11.c.i: Profanity and Hate Speech.** A Team Member may not use language that is obscene, foul, vulgar, insulting, threatening, abusive, libelous, slanderous, defamatory or otherwise offensive or objectionable; or promote or incite hatred or discriminatory conduct.
**Section 11.c.iii: Behavior in LoL.** All Members of the Full Team Roster are subject to behavior checks and reviews for their behavior while playing LoL, including before being permitted to participate in Tournaments. Team Members are expected to behave appropriately in-game and to avoid the use of derogatory, racist and offensive language as well as griefing and intentionally feeding.
**Section 11.c.vii: Statements Regarding Tournament Operators, LCS, Riot Games, and League of Legends.** Team Members may not give, make, issue, authorize or endorse any statement or action having, or designed to have, an effect prejudicial or detrimental to the best interest of the Tournament Operator, LCS, Riot Games or its affiliates, or League of Legends, as determined in the sole and absolute discretion of Riot Games.
**Section 11.e.v: Investigation Conduct and Confidentiality.** If a Tournament Official contacts a Team Member to discuss an investigation, the Team Member is obligated to tell the truth. If a Team Member withholds information or misleads an Tournament Official creating an obstruction of the investigation then the Team and/or Team Member is subject to punishment. The Team and/or Team Member may not disclose any information provided by any party during the course of the investigation.
