Jay “Sinatraa” Won’s announcement of his return has caused a frenzy in the esports industry. While some were excited with the news, others called him out for his statement while also demanding that he not be allowed to compete as a professional Valorant player anymore.
It has been a back-and-forth situation, and rightly so, mainly because such a delicate matter is seemingly not addressed properly. The ex-Sentinels player was ready to resume tryouts this week and was hopeful for a reunion with the Sentinels.
However, several individuals in the esports community, including esport journalist Liz Richardson, have openly expressed their displeasure with how things are being handled, especially with the severity of the accusations levelled at him. She said the way he is being welcomed is “disheartening, infuriating, and disgusting.”
With the backlash on social media regarding his announcement, the Valorant star has been vocal about his point of view. Sinatraa has attempted to rectify things, to the point of sharing the email correspondence he received from Riot Games regarding his status.
For context, this was the final determination I received from riot about my status. pic.twitter.com/l6TGolyIiZ
— Jay Won (@sinatraa) April 14, 2022
The message revealed that he was cleared to participate in competitive tournaments, on January 12, 2022. However, members of the esports community are fuming that he was not made to undergo any training, as excerpts from the mail stated, “We feel like you would already know most of the information covered in the training.”
It is ironic, considering that the Valorant player was banned for not cooperating with investigations, which is why getting a pass on a training focused on just that – cooperating with investigations – seems bizarre.
To that end, John Needham, the president of esports at Riot Games, has released a statement concerning Sinatraa’s attempted return. He acknowledged the email released by Sinatraa but has overruled the content of the earlier communique.
In his statement, he emphasized that Sinatraa is “required to undergo professional conduct training.” The president went on to say that the training will focus on how Won ought to conduct himself as a professional, the importance of complying with rules and regulations, and complying with investigations.
An update from John Needham – President, Esports, Riot Games pic.twitter.com/q8WtbVzE23
— VALORANT Champions Tour (@ValorantEsports) April 15, 2022
Recall that the primary reason why Sinatraa was banned from professional Valorant for six months was because of his unwillingness to cooperate with the Operations Team, who were conducting an investigation surrounding him.
The 22-year-old was accused of mental and sexual abuse by his ex-girlfriend Cleo ��cle0h�� Hernandez. With the suspension, the player lost the privilege of representing Sentinels in several esports tournaments, including the 2021 Valorant Champions Tour (VCT).
Sinatraa was hopeful he would feature in the 2022 VCT, but given recent developments, he might not be eligible to play. However, with the tournament resuming in September, he might make a return early enough if he successfully abides by the conditions set by Riot Games.
Even after that, he would first need to find a new team that will be willing to put him on their roster. While his abilities are commendable, teams might be concerned about his character.
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