Riot suspends NAVI streamer from VCT co-streaming

Riot Games has suspended former professional VALORANT player Ardis “ardiis” Svarenieks from co-streaming any VALORANT Champions Tour events through Aug. 19, 2026 after he used transphobic and discriminatory language while co-streaming a Game Changers match.

Riot’s VALORANT Esports EMEA account wrote that ardiis violated the company’s Terms of Service by using discriminatory and offensive language. The account reiterated that Riot does not tolerate conduct targeting characteristics such as race, ethnicity, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion or nationality. The suspension is effective immediately and bars ardiis from co-streaming any VCT competition through Aug. 19, 2026; Riot warned further violations could result in permanent loss of co-streaming rights.

Hours after Riot’s announcement, NAVI, which employed ardiis as a co-streamer, released a statement expressing support for Riot’s decision and describing the comments as beyond an acceptable line. NAVI announced it was suspending cooperation with ardiis effective immediately and did not specify whether its suspension will match the length of Riot’s ban.

Game Changers is a VALORANT circuit created to give women and gender-diverse players a competitive stage. Under the circuit’s 2026 rules, every player on a team roster must identify as a woman or as gender diverse. Riot’s account said ardiis repeatedly used discriminatory and transphobic language about certain players during the co-stream.

In a post on X, ardiis apologised, writing that his comments about the transgender community were unacceptable, expressing sorrow to those he had offended and stating it would not happen again.

Riot has issued co-streaming or partner suspensions in past cases. In 2022 Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng received a one-week co-stream suspension related to public criticism of the LCS. In 2020 Christian “IWDominate” Rivera was removed from Riot’s League Partner Program for about a year after social media comments Riot described as violating its community standards; his official co-streaming rights were suspended during that period and later restored after review.

The suspension of ardiis takes effect immediately and will remain in place through Aug. 19, 2026. Riot indicated further breaches of its Terms of Service could trigger permanent co-streaming bans. NAVI’s longer-term relationship with ardiis remains unclear.