What is 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.
Bowls Australia takes integrity seriously.
All our members and participants 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 federal agency established to prevent and deal with integrity threats in sport. 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!
Bowls has opted-in to the independent complaints handling process for integrity-related issues run by Sport Integrity Australia.
From June 14, 2022 concerns or complaints about alleged breaches of our National Integrity Framework can be reported directly to Sport Integrity Australia through the following methods:
- Filling in a formal complaint or reporting a concern through the form on the Sport Integrity Australia website
- Phoning 13 000 27232
- Completing the ‘report an issue’ form in the Sport Integrity App. This can be anonymous if you choose.
Our integrity rules
We take sport integrity seriously and have the following policies in place:
- National Integrity Framework
- National Integrity Framework – Summary
- National Integrity Framework – Child Safeguarding Policy
- National Integrity Framework – Child Safeguarding Policy (SA Addendum)
- National Integrity Framework – Competition Manipulation and Sports Wagering Policy
- National Integrity Framework – Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy
- National Integrity Framework – Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine Policy
- National Integrity Framework – Member Protection Policy
Issues to report to Sport Integrity Australia vs issues to report to Bowls Australia
Bowls Australia will continue to handle all non-National Integrity Framework (NIF) related matters (such as historical complaints prior to June 14, 2022, selection issues, competition rules, code of conduct breaches, employment, personal grievances, governance etc). To report a non NIF matter contact: BA’s CEO Neil Dalrymple at ndalrymple@bowls.com.au.
Education, resources and awareness
When it comes to sport integrity, it is critical that our athletes and support personnel are aware of their rights and responsibilities. There are a range of tools and resources available to help keep participants informed.
Integrity eLearning
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.
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 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. 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.
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 in regards to anti-doping. The Sport Integrity Australia website has a range of information and resources to assist, including:
- information about supplements
- applying for a Therapeutic Use Exemption
- submitting Whereabouts information
- information about athlete testing
Competition Manipulation and Sports Gambling
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.
A common example is when an athlete places bets on a pre-arranged outcome, such as deliberately losing a match, and profits from the winnings. Another is when a team or athlete withdraws from an event or competition before or during an event and benefits financially to do so.
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.
Safeguarding
Participation in sport should be safe for all. We are committed to ensuring that people in sport, including children, are treated with respect dignity and are protected from bullying, discrimination, harassment or abuse.
Breaches of Integrity Policies
All breaches in relation to integrity policies (except for Anti-Doping and Protected Disclosures under the Whistleblower Policy), will be managed using the Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy.
Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy
Our Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy 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.
Lodging a complaint
Below are some simple tips to remember when considering lodging a complaint with Sport Integrity Australia.
- Anyone can make a complaint.
- Only complaints relating to allege breaches of prohibited conduct under the National Integrity Framework can be submitted to Sport Integrity Australia.
- 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).