Sport Integrity
What is sport integrity?
Sport is an Australian way of life. It brings people together, regardless of any differences in language, ability, culture and beliefs, and provides physical, social and economic benefits.
For those reasons, it’s critical that we keep our sport safe and fair, for everyone who participates.
Threats to sports integrity include things like illicit drug use, doping, competition-manipulation 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, fair and inclusive environment.
The OWIA takes integrity seriously and works closely with Sport Integrity Australia, the national agency established to protect sport against integrity threats.
All our athletes and staff have an obligation to protect and maintain the integrity of sport, as well as the health and wellbeing of people who participate.
National Integrity Framework
To provide sports at all levels with guidance in the integrity space, independent government agency Sport Integrity Australia (SIA), developed the National Integrity Framework (NIF) which the OWIA adopted in September 2022.
The NIF is a suite of five policies which set out rules for unacceptable behaviour in sport and is an important step in protecting our sport and our members from integrity threats like harassment, bullying, abuse, illicit drugs and competition manipulation.
In December 2023, the OWIA Board endorsed updated versions of the five NIF policies which come into effect from 1 January 2024:
Sport is an Australian way of life. It brings people together, regardless of any differences in language, ability, culture and beliefs, and provides physical, social and economic benefits.
For those reasons, it’s critical that we keep our sport safe and fair, for everyone who participates.
Threats to sports integrity include things like illicit drug use, doping, competition-manipulation 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, fair and inclusive environment.
The OWIA takes integrity seriously and works closely with Sport Integrity Australia, the national agency established to protect sport against integrity threats.
All our athletes and staff have an obligation to protect and maintain the integrity of sport, as well as the health and wellbeing of people who participate.
National Integrity Framework
To provide sports at all levels with guidance in the integrity space, independent government agency Sport Integrity Australia (SIA), developed the National Integrity Framework (NIF) which the OWIA adopted in September 2022.
The NIF is a suite of five policies which set out rules for unacceptable behaviour in sport and is an important step in protecting our sport and our members from integrity threats like harassment, bullying, abuse, illicit drugs and competition manipulation.
In December 2023, the OWIA Board endorsed updated versions of the five NIF policies which come into effect from 1 January 2024:
Safeguarding
The OWIA is committed to sporting environments that are safe, supportive and friendly for children and young people.
The OWIA Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy is designed to protect children and young people in sport by putting in place rules and processes to ensure sporting environments are inclusive, positive and safe for all children and young people, all the time.
The OWIA Child Safe Contact is our National Integrity Manager Angie Foord, who can be contacted on [email protected]
Check out the below helpful resources for more information:
Additionally, the Sport Integrity Australia website has an extensive library of child safe resources.
The OWIA is committed to sporting environments that are safe, supportive and friendly for children and young people.
The OWIA Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy is designed to protect children and young people in sport by putting in place rules and processes to ensure sporting environments are inclusive, positive and safe for all children and young people, all the time.
The OWIA Child Safe Contact is our National Integrity Manager Angie Foord, who can be contacted on [email protected]
Check out the below helpful resources for more information:
- OWIA Child Safe Do's and Don'ts
- OWIA Communicating Online or Electronically with Children and Young People
- Sport Integrity Australia's Information sheet for 13-17 year olds - How Your Sport Looks After You
Additionally, the Sport Integrity Australia website has an extensive library of child safe resources.
Anti-doping
The OWIA anti-doping policy is the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy and can be found on the Sport Integrity Australia website (or downloaded here).
The OWIA anti-doping policy is the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy and can be found on the Sport Integrity Australia website (or downloaded here).
Reporting Integrity Concerns
Knowledge of, or concerns regarding integrity-related matters should be reported directly to our National Integrity Manager – Angie Foord ([email protected]).
Matters relating to Safeguarding Children and Young People or Discrimination of adults on the basis of a Protected Characteristic (race or nationality, disability, sex, age, sexual orientation, and religion may also be reported to Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) by:
The OWIA will continue to handle all non-National Integrity Framework related matters, such as Selection Policy Disputes. You can find more information about who manages what sort of sport complaints here.
Knowledge of, or concerns regarding integrity-related matters should be reported directly to our National Integrity Manager – Angie Foord ([email protected]).
Matters relating to Safeguarding Children and Young People or Discrimination of adults on the basis of a Protected Characteristic (race or nationality, disability, sex, age, sexual orientation, and religion may also be reported to Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) by:
- Online Reporting Form
- Completing the ‘report an issue’ form in the Sport Integrity App -The app is free and can be downloaded from the Apple and Android app stores.;
- Emailing [email protected]; or
- Safe Sport Hotline: 1800 161 361
The OWIA will continue to handle all non-National Integrity Framework related matters, such as Selection Policy Disputes. You can find more information about who manages what sort of sport complaints here.
Education, resources and awareness
There are a range of tools and resources available to help keep athletes and staff informed about integrity.
1. Factsheets
Sport Integrity Australia have developed a number of Factsheets to help you understand the integrity policies, prohibited conduct and how to make a complaint:
2. Education Plan 2024
Education is key to protecting the integrity of Australian sport. Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) and the OWIA are committed to working together to mitigate and manage integrity threats to provide a safe and fair environment for participants at all levels of sport.
The 2024 OWIA Education Plan has been developed in partnership with SIA, who will support this plan through the provision of education resources and interventions as and where possible. It outline the required and recommended education courses for all OWIA administration staff, support personnel, board members, coaches and athletes to facilitate compliance with the National Integrity Framework policies and Snow Australia's Anti-Doping Policy.
Click here to read the 2024 OWIA Education Plan in full and here to access the SIA e-learning portal.'
There are a range of tools and resources available to help keep athletes and staff informed about integrity.
1. Factsheets
Sport Integrity Australia have developed a number of Factsheets to help you understand the integrity policies, prohibited conduct and how to make a complaint:
- Member Protection Policy
- Safeguarding of Children and Young People Policy
- Use of Drugs and Medicine Policy
- Competition Manipulation and Sport Gambling Policy
- Complaints, Disputes And Discipline Policy
- Prohibited Conduct
2. Education Plan 2024
Education is key to protecting the integrity of Australian sport. Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) and the OWIA are committed to working together to mitigate and manage integrity threats to provide a safe and fair environment for participants at all levels of sport.
The 2024 OWIA Education Plan has been developed in partnership with SIA, who will support this plan through the provision of education resources and interventions as and where possible. It outline the required and recommended education courses for all OWIA administration staff, support personnel, board members, coaches and athletes to facilitate compliance with the National Integrity Framework policies and Snow Australia's Anti-Doping Policy.
Click here to read the 2024 OWIA Education Plan in full and here to access the SIA e-learning portal.'
3. Sport Integrity app
The Sport Integrity app is a one-stop shop for all sport integrity needs. The app allows users to:
The app is free and can be downloaded from the Apple and Android app stores.
3. Sport Integrity app
The Sport Integrity app is a one-stop shop for all sport integrity needs. 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
- check whether they need a Therapeutic Use Exemption.
The app is free and can be downloaded from the Apple and Android app stores.
4. Prohibited List of substances and methods
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. The 2023 Prohibited List can be found here.
Athletes should check the status of all medications on GlobalDRO before they use them. 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.
5. 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, inclusion and integrity issues in sport.
6. Stay up to date on social media
Keep up to date with all that is happening in sport integrity by following Sport Integrity Australia on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or listen to On Side, the official podcast of Sport Integrity Australia.
Other Relevant Policies/Codes of Conduct
Policies that the OWIA retains control over the handling of are:
To report breaches of any of the above policies, please contact:
Angie Foord
Email: [email protected]
Note: For all other OWIA Policies, go to the OWIA Policies page on this website: OWIA Policies & Documents
