Riot has released a Competitive Ruling regarding the behavior of Andy Dinh
TSM (formerly known as Team SoloMid) is an American based esports organisation created around the community website SoloMid.net by brothers Andy “Reginald” Dinh and Dan “Dan Dinh” Dinh in September 2009.
TSM has been a household name in NA LoL Championship series (LCS) since its LoL division was created way back in 2011. TSM has placed highly in the League, winning multiple seasonal LCS and participated in 8 World’s Championship, although the team has been entering a slump since 2020.
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The League believes that there was a pattern and practice of disparaging and bullying behavior exhibited by Andy Dinh towards TSM players and staff members
In November 2021, a former TSM player made a series of public allegations against Andy Dinh (“Dinh”), the majority owner of TSM. These allegations included accusations of bullying and berating players and staff on TSM, stating that Dinh’s verbal assaults had caused players and staff public humiliation, mental breakdowns and more.
In response to these public allegations, additional individuals who are or were associated with TSM came forward with similar allegations through the NA LCS Players Association
An internal investigation by TSM was conducted, independent of Dinh, and found although “there were no unlawful conduct by Mr. Dinh”, he “provided feedback to employees, including players, in an aggressive and harsh tone.”
The LCS’s investigation’s findings were as follows:
Based upon the conclusions we drew from the reporting of our independent investigators, we believe that there was a pattern and practice of disparaging and bullying behavior exhibited by Dinh. This included verbally abusing pro players and TSM staff members and communicating in a demeaning and belittling manner. Nearly all of the witnesses agreed that Dinh’s outbursts and abuse were generally limited to a player or staff member’s perceived performance. None of the witnesses recall any situation in which Dinh’s abusive behavior focused on a protected class (race, gender, age, sexual orientation, sexual identity, etc) and there were no reports of actual or threatened physical abuse towards any TSM player or staff member.
Ruling
- TSM is fined seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000), Dinh must complete sensitivity training and executive training and Dinh is on probation for the next two years across the Riot ecosystem
- An independent monitor is being appointed to operate a tip-line and follow-through with regular check-ins with TSM League of Legends players.
Hopefully, these rather severe punishments help improve TSM’s players and staff working condition, and serve as a precaution to other people in positions of power within LoL ecosystem. Bullying and other abuses of power will not be tolerated.
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