Riot Games Hands 12-Month Ban to LCK Star Kim 'Clid' Tae-min
Riot Games has declared a 12-month ban on LCK star Kim ‘Clid’ Tae-min following his involvement in unacceptable conduct. The prohibition is the result of an investigation into inappropriate messages allegedly sent by Clid to various women, one of whom was underage.
Investigation Triggered by Social Media Expose
The probe was initiated after several explicit direct messages sent by Clid were exposed by a Twitter user named 'Seoyeon'. A selfie from the player was also shared. Claims submitted to Hanwha Life Esports, Clid’s team, by Seoyeon regarding the matter were reportedly dismissed.
Investigation Concludes with Damming Findings
An exhaustive review of the indecent messages published online, coupled with a statement from Clid, led to the conclusion of the investigation. The findings revealed that no evidence suggested the victimised women in any way instigated Clid's actions, but rather several instances suggested they rebuked them.
Formal Statement from Riot Games and LCK Investigation Committee
Riot’s formal statement read, 'In particular, we determined that conduct such as making sexual comments to women who were underage is unacceptable under any circumstances.' The LCK Investigation Committee declared strict action necessary in light of his recognised status as a professional gamer who needed to set a positive example. The seriousness of the matter signified the imposition of a 12-month suspension on Kim ‘Clid’ Tae-min from participating in the LCK games.
The Right to Appeal
Kim ‘Clid’ Tae-min has the right to appeal against the ban within 14 days of the notice to the South Korean Esports Fairness Committee. The suspension will be considered final upon the expiration of the appeal period. Clid's ban extends to any domestic or international League of Legends esports league, leading to him being effectively suspended from all LoL activity for a year. This raises doubts regarding his continued career as a professional player at the age of 24.
Clid’s Career Before the Incident
Clid had enjoyed quite a successful run as a Korean jungler prior to this incident. He first came into the spotlight in 2019 with SK Telecom T1, leading them to the semi-finals of both MSI and Worlds that year. He was subsequently part of Gen.G and FunPlus Phoenix before signing up with HLE towards the end of 2022.
Fallout of the Scandal
His unfortunate descent began when explicit messages became public, resulting in his exclusion from HLE’s starting lineup at the end of June. He could only observe from the sidelines as his team finished LCK Summer 2023 in fourth place and secured third place in the LCK Regional Finals. Unfortunately, they missed out on the Worlds 2023 qualification.