Philippines waives drug tests for visiting esports pros

The Philippine Games and Amusements Board has exempted foreign professional esports players from mandatory drug testing for short-term tournaments and will issue event-specific Special Esports Licenses valid up to 30 days.

The policy change was discussed during a courtesy visit by representatives of the Philippine Esports Organisation to GAB and is tied to GAB Resolution No. 2026-13, which sets rules for issuing the new permits.

Under the resolution, visiting foreign players competing in GAB-sanctioned short-term tournaments will receive a Special Esports License (SEL) instead of a full professional GAB license. The SEL covers a single, specified tournament and cannot exceed 30 days.

Applicants for the SEL must have an endorsement from a GAB-sanctioned tournament organizer and pay the required license fees. The drug-testing requirement that applied to full professional licenses will not apply to these short-term permits.

Previously, all applicants for a professional GAB license were subject to mandatory drug testing. Tournament organizers and international teams had flagged testing as a logistical challenge for brief events that involve visiting players.

The SEL is limited to foreign professional players joining events in the Philippines and does not replace the regular professional license used by resident or longer-term athletes.

GAB Chairman Atty. Francisco J. Rivera described the board’s posture toward esports as largely hands-off and credited PESO for helping shape the new approach. “We look at this (Esports) as a private sector-driven enterprise. So, the government would interfere the least. Thanks to PESO, we were able to apply some sort of an imaginative approach to our situation. And hopefully, with this move, we could place the Philippines once again in the world map of esports hosting. That’s our approach,” Rivera said.

PESO officials cited past international tournaments that brought tourists, media coverage and spending that benefited local businesses when explaining why easier entry for foreign competitors is important.

GAB and PESO stated the licensing change is intended to streamline participation for international competitors while keeping oversight through event endorsements and time-limited permits.