Sport Integrity
Sport is an Australian way of life. It brings people together, transcending differences in language, ability, culture and beliefs, and provides physical, social and economic benefits.
Threats to sports integrity include competition-manipulation, doping, and behaviours that impact people’s positive experience of sport, such as discrimination or abuse. Integrity in sport means that athletes, supporters and fans can participate and celebrate sport, confident in the knowledge that they are part of a safe, ethical and inclusive environment.
Skate Australia takes integrity seriously.
All our members have an obligation to protect and maintain the integrity of sport, as well as the health and wellbeing of our athletes.
We work closely with Sport Integrity Australia, the national agency established to protect sport against integrity threats. For more information visit the Sport Integrity Australia website.
Reporting Integrity Issues
Everyone from athletes, parents, support personnel, administrators and supporters play a role in protecting the integrity of our sport.
If you see something, say something!
Skate Australia has opted-in to the independent complaints handling process for integrity-related issues run by Sport Integrity Australia.
From 1 May 2022, concerns or complaints about alleged breaches of our National Integrity Framework can be reported directly to Sport Integrity Australia through the following methods:
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Filling in a formal complaint or reporting a concern through the form on the Sport Integrity Australia website
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Phoning 13 000 27232
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Completing the ‘report an issue’ form in the Sport Integrity App. This can be anonymous if you choose.
OUR INTEGRITY RULES
Our Integrity Rules
We take sport integrity seriously and have the following policies in place:
Child Safeguarding - South Australia Addendum
Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine
Competition Manipulation and Sport Wagering
Complaints, Disputes and Discipline
All policies and guidelines can be found here.
Education, Resources and Awareness
When it comes to sport integrity, it is critical that our members are aware of their rights and responsibilities. There are a range of tools and resources available to help keep participants informed.
Integrity e-Learning
Sport Integrity Australia eLearning offers a number of online courses relating to sport integrity, including doping, match fixing, illicit drugs and ethical decision-making courses. Specific anti-doping courses are also available for coaches, support persons, medical practitioners and parents.
Athletes required to complete education can submit their ‘eLearning certificate’ to their Team Manager.
Sport Integrity App
The Sport Integrity app is a one-stop shop for all sport integrity needs, designed with athletes in mind.
The app allows users to check whether their medications are banned in sport, find low risk supplements to reduce their change of testing positive accidentally, and check whether they need a Therapeutic Use Exemption. The app is also a tool to raise concerns about things like doping, match-fixing, harassment or illicit drug use. It also features further information on eLearning modules, whereabouts and testing information and gives users the opportunity to provide feedback to Sport Integrity Australia.
The app is free and can be downloaded from the Apple and Android app stores.
Prohibited List
The Prohibited List outlines the substances and methods that are prohibited in sport. It is updated annually by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Remember that individual products or brands are not named on the Prohibited List. Athletes should check the status of all medications before they use them on GlobalDRO.
Checking Your Substances
Global DRO allows users to check whether the most commonly prescribed and over-the-counter medicines in Australia are permitted or prohibited in sport.
If an athlete requires use of a prohibited substance to treat a medical condition, the athlete needs to be aware of the Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) requirements. For more information on a Therapeutic Use Exemptions visit Sport Integrity Australia’s website.
Play By The Rules
Play by the Rules provides information, resources, tools and free online training to administrators, coaches, officials, players, parents and spectators to assist them in preventing and dealing with discrimination, harassment, child safety, inclusion and integrity issues in sport.
Anti-Doping
Anti-doping rules apply to all participants of our sport from elite down to grassroots. All members must be aware of, and have a basic understanding of, their obligations regarding anti-doping. The Sport Integrity Australia website has a range of information and resources to assist, including:
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information about supplements
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applying for a Therapeutic Use Exemption
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submitting Whereabouts information
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information about athlete testing
Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine
The improper use of drugs and medicine in sport, including the use of supplements and the provision by unqualified and unauthorised people are a risk to the health of athlete and the integrity of sport.
To counter these risks, we have put in place an Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine Policy which ensures:
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Medical practitioners working in our sport are accredited and qualified to fulfil their duties
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Medicines are used in appropriate ways
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Safe use of supplements which comply with the World Anti-Doping Code
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Illegal drug use is prohibited in our sport
For more information, check out the Improper Use of Drugs and Medicines Fact Sheet.
Click here for information to help 13-17 year old’s understand the Improper Use of Drugs and Medicines Policy.
Competition Manipulation and Sports Wagering
Manipulating sports competitions, commonly known as ‘match-fixing’ is when someone alters a sporting competition to remove the unpredictable nature of the competition to obtain an undue advantage, or benefit.
People are motivated to manipulate competitions for a variety of reasons such as to get a better draw in a round-robin tournament (often referred to as tanking) or to avoid relegation to a lower competition. Another reason people manipulate competitions is to profit through betting markets by underperforming intentionally.
In most Australian states and territories, the manipulation of sporting competitions can result in a criminal conviction and up to ten years in jail. Participants of a sport involved in manipulating competitions will also likely face a long ban from sport. More information can be found on the Sport Integrity Australia website.
For more information, check out the Competition Manipulation & Sports Wagering Fact Sheet.
Click here for information to help 13-17 year old’s understand Competition Manipulation and Sports Wagering Policy.
Click here to view our Competition Manipulation & Sports Wagering Policy.
Breaches of Integrity Policies
All alleged breaches in relation to our National Integrity Framework and associated integrity policies will be managed under the our Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy. This sets out the process for resolving complaints arising from a breach of an eligible policy.
Complaints in relation to breaches under the National Integrity Framework will be managed independently by Sport Integrity Australia.
For more information on what a breach under the National Integrity Framework is, check out the Prohibited Conduct Fact Sheet.
For more information on the Complaints, Disputes and Disciplines Policy check out the Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Fact Sheet.
Lodging a Complaint
Below are some simple tips to remember when considering lodging a complaint with Sport Integrity Australia.
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Anyone can make a complaint.
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Only complaints relating to allege breaches of prohibited conduct under the National Integrity Framework can be submitted to Sport Integrity Australia.
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Complaints can only be actioned if the person who allegedly committed the behaviour is bound by our sport (i.e. they must have agreed to be bound by the policy via membership or agreement).
To report a breach of an integrity policy, submit directly to Sport Integrity Australia via:
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Phone: 13 000 27232
Lodging a Complaint About Other Integrity Matters
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Complaints relating to selections, governance, personal grievances, whistleblower, code of conduct or social media behaviour are not covered under the National Integrity Framework. Complaints of this nature should be submitted to your State Association in the first instance.
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The Conduct and Disciplinary Policy sets out the process for resolving conduct and disciplinary disputes arising from an individual or organisation breaching an eligible policy.
Contact
For integrity enquiries and education opportunities please contact our National Integrity and Complaints Manager.