Riot Games Prohibits Teabagging and Shooting Bodies at Valorant Champions Shanghai

Riot Games has revealed a major change to in-game conduct for Valorant Champions Shanghai. The publisher has officially prohibited teabagging, shooting dead bodies, and shooting player pucks during the tournament. Players caught participating in any of these prohibited acts will face disciplinary action. The policy update was highlighted on social media through shared tournament rule graphics, showing that any breach of this specific conduct policy is subject to penalties.

This rule update arrives alongside broader debates over whether esports organizations should prioritize strict behavioral guidelines or allow player personalities to shine. The action follows previous instances of player discipline in Riot Games titles, including a recent suspension of a League of Legends player for approaching an opponent after a match. While similar informal warnings have occurred at past events, such as a 2021 directive issued to players at the request of admins during a G2 match, the explicit ban at Champions Shanghai has drawn fresh discussion from the community.

Content creators and observers have pointed out potential cultural reasons behind the timing and location of the new rule. Valorant content creator Khorée suggested that the prohibition may relate to regional cultural sensitivities in the host nation, noting that teabagging resembles a Chinese phrase meaning digging up a grave, which is considered a highly humiliating practice. Similar tensions arose earlier in the year during Masters London, when FUT Esports player Efe Tur shot the bodies of fallen opponents and engaged in verbal taunts during a match against EDward Gaming, sparking intense online reactions.

Riot Games has not targeted any individual player with the new mandate, framing it instead as part of standard tournament integrity and respect for the host region. As teams prepare to compete at Valorant Champions Shanghai, all participants must adjust their stage habits to avoid disciplinary penalties under the updated event guidelines.