Global Esports head coach Preston “Juv3nile” Dornon has been suspended for 12 months and will be required to complete an executive training focused on conduct, respect, and professionalism, as per Riot Games.
SOUTH KOREA – Global Esports head coach Preston “Juv3nile” Dornon has been suspended from all Riot-sanctioned events, including the VCT Pacific circuit, for 12 months following violations of the Riot Games Esports Global Code of Conduct.
In addition to the suspension, Riot Games has mandated that Juv3nile complete an executive training program focused on conduct, respect, and professionalism. As a result, Global Esports will no longer be able to include him as part of their active coaching roster.
The American coach was signed by Global Esports for the 2025 VCT Pacific season after a successful stint with Leviatán, where he helped the team win the VCT Americas Stage 2 title and secure a third-place finish at VALORANT Champions Seoul.
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Riot Games considered that the below constituted the most relevant factual findings:
- Volume and Pattern of Outreach: Juv3nile sent unsolicited direct messages to over 60 individuals he did not know or have prior interactions with, reflecting a sustained and concerning pattern of outreach.
- Nature and Content of Messages: Many messages included offers of gifts, coaching sessions, and direct invitations to meet in person – often referencing Riot Games’ venue – with little or no prior conversation. Some messages contained language that Riot Games considered suggestive or inappropriate, particularly in the context of unsolicited communications.
- Interaction with Individuals Identifying as Minors: Riot Games could not independently verify the age of all individuals, however, at least one recipient had indicated in their profile that they were a minor. In another instance, the recipient disclosed their age after numerous messages, whereby Juv3nile ceased communication. Based on the evidence reviewed, it did not appear that Juv3nile was specifically targeting minors. However, his reckless behavior constituted a disregard for online communication safety.
- Continued, Unreciprocated Outreach: A significant portion of the messages received no response, yet in some instances, Juv3nile continued to reach out, reflecting a pattern of repeated communication despite little or no engagement.
- Invitation to Riot Games’ Venue: Juv3nile referenced Riot Games’ venue in several messages. This use of professional affiliation in a personal context blurred professional boundaries.
Around the same time, Juv3nile was noticeably cut from a piece of VCT Pacific content without any official explanation—something that many now believe could be connected to Riot’s recent decision.
In the meantime, Global Esports assistant coach Donnie “Elevated” Chell has published a statement of his own regarding the ruling:
“I am confident in the team we have built at Global Esports and look forward to seeing what this great group of guys can accomplish in the rest of the season.
As for Juv3nile, it’s a very unfortunate situation where one person’s poor decisions have impacted many other people. I don’t think he is a bad person deep down, but it’s our responsibility as coaches to set a good example for the young people we lead; inside and outside the game.
I hope that you will lend your support to our players as we work to make a run towards Toronto and Paris.”
Global Esports statement:
“We respect and support Riot’s decision fully. At Global Esports, we believe that accountability and integrity are non-negotiable. No matter how difficult or unfortunate a situation may be, the standards of conduct and professionalism — both inside and outside the game — must be upheld at all times, by coaches, staff & players.
Everyone associated with Global Esports and Riot’s ecosystem is expected to meet the highest ethical standards. We are committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment across all aspects of our organization and the VALORANT Champions Tour. We are working internally to ensure the team remains supported during this time. Thank you for your continued support”
Official Ruling by Riot Games attached below:
“Riot Games was recently made aware of potential breaches of the Riot Games Esports Global Code of Conduct (“Global Code of Conduct”) involving Preston “Juv3nile” Dornon and has conducted an investigation into the matter.
After careful consideration of the matter, Juv3nile will be suspended from all Riot-sanctioned esports competitions for 12 months starting today, 4 April 2025 and will be required to complete an executive training focused on conduct, respect, and professionalism. A detailed competitive ruling will be published in the Rulings section at competitiveops.riotgames.com in due course.
Esports professionals in our affiliated teams play an important role in representing our sport to the community, so we hold our players and coaches to a high professional standard both on and off the stage. In particular, coaches and any individuals in positions of authority within the Riot Games Esports ecosystem, may be held to a higher standard of conduct given their influence in fostering and maintaining a positive environment. We appreciate your support as we focus on building a welcoming ecosystem for our community.”
More to come. . .
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Cover photo courtesy of VCT Pacific
