ENVY has officially released VALORANT player Alex “canezerra” Banyasz on April 16 following a 12-month hardware ban issued by Riot Games, citing multiple violations of the company’s Terms of Service related to behavioral misconduct.
In an official statement, ENVY confirmed that it had been informed of Riot’s disciplinary action on canezerra, and that the scope of the punishment made it impossible for the 17-year-old American VALORANT pro to continue with the roster. The organization also emphasized that the ruling was not related to cheating.
“After a careful review of Canezerra’s behavior while playing Riot’s games, they found multiple violations of their Terms of Service. This was not a ban for cheating. This break of their Terms of Service comes with the penalties that impact his ability to be on the ENVY roster,” the org said.
“The scope of the ban prohibits him from playing, competing, streaming, or engaging in any promotional activity across all Riot titles. As a result, his contract with ENVY has been terminated, effective immediately.”
The decision to terminate canezerra’s contract came just months after ENVY’s return to VCT Americas.
What is a hardware ban from Riot Games?
A hardware ban (also known as Hardware ID/HWID ban) is one of Riot Games’ most severe disciplinary actions for violations like cheating or extreme, repeated toxicity. Unlike a standard account suspension, a hardware ban restricts access at the device level, preventing the player from accessing Riot titles even with new accounts.
In canezerra’s case, the ban spans 12 months and includes restrictions on playing and streaming Riot titles, competing in official esports events, and participating in promotional or partnered activities tied to the developer.
Canezerra issues public apology
The up-and-coming VALORANT player acknowledged responsibility for his actions and apologized to ENVY, the fans, and Riot.
“I made a serious mistake and said things I deeply regret. There’s no excuse for it,” canezerra said in a post on X. “Ever since I started playing this game, I’ve wanted to be the best. For the past five years, I’ve put in close to 10 hours a day grinding and trying to improve. During that time, especially in ranked, I’ve acted immaturely, and this is a clear wake-up call that I need to be better.”
Canezerra stated his intention to improve during his suspension and remain committed to VALORANT in the long term.
“As I approach 18, I want to become a better example, not a bad one. I accept my punishment and will use this time to grow and make sure it never happens again. I’m fully committed to this game and to coming back the right way.”
Canezerra’s career had been closely watched in the VALORANT pro scene, particularly in the Americas region. He joined RANKERS in 2024, playing alongside ex-100 Thieves and FaZe Clan player Inspire, P0PPIN, ion2x, and Eggsterr.
The roster was later acquired by ENVY in March 2025 as part of the organization’s return to competitive VALORANT after nearly four years away. The team went on to win Ascension Americas 2025, earning a place in the VCT Americas 2026 league.
Canezerra, who was set to turn 18 on June 4, was also expected to become eligible for the 2026 VCT Americas Stage 1, where he had been listed as a substitute before his contract termination.
