League of Legends Challenger Series team Cloud9 Tempest has been banned from competition through the remainder of the Spring Split.
The team used a ringer in their qualifier match against Team Confound Riot Games announced last night in its ruling on the subject, confirming a report by the Daily Dot last week.
On Feb. 4, the team was ready to play its final qualifier, but support player Ritchie “Fade” Ngo had not yet patched his tournament realm client. Cloud9 Tempest chose to use one of their analysts on his account instead of bringing the matter to Riot Games’ attention. When Cloud9 upper management, notably team owner Jack Etienne, learned of the incident, he contacted Riot Games and revealed the indiscretion.
Cloud9 Tempest and the players on the team, including their manager, Danan “Kaniggit” Flander, who was complicit with the infraction, are suspended through the remainder of the Spring Split. The team is also disqualified from the current Challenger Series, with Team Confound, the squad they used a ringer against, advancing into the main event. The Cloud9 organization itself is suspended from sponsoring a Challenger team through the Spring.
For Team Confound, the ruling is a double blessing. They will compete in the Challenger Series, and under a new name: Team SoloMid Darkness. The top team in the region picked up the squad now that they have a chance at further competition.
Cloud9 was fined for the incident in part because the Tempest team did not have any prize winnings with which to levy such a punishment. While the organization itself came forward once upper management learned of the situation, Riot Games held them accountable for poor handling at the Cloud9 Tempest level.
