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 Handball 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, officials, volunteers, supporters and fans can participate and celebrate sport, confident in the knowledge that they are part of a safe, fair and inclusive environment.
Handball 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 people who participate.
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. The National Integrity Framework, which is a suite of integrity policies developed by Sport Integrity Australia, and an independent complaint handling process.
Concerns or complaints about alleged integrity breaches can be reported directly to Sport Integrity Australia by filling out the webform on the Sport Integrity Australia website.
Handball Australia 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 in the NIF Overview Fact Sheet.
Our integrity rules
The following policies are now in place:
- HA National Integrity Framework
- HA Member Protection
- HA Child Safeguarding
- HA Child Safeguarding South Australia addendum
- HA Improper Use of Drugs & Medicines
- HA Competition Manipulation and Sports Wagering
- HA Complaints, Disputes & Discipline
- Australian National Anti-doping
Policy Information in more detail
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 regard 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.
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:
- Medical practitioners working in our sport are accredited and qualified to fulfil their duties
- Medicines are used in appropriate ways
- Safe use of supplements which comply with the World Anti-Doping Code
- Illegal drug use is prohibited in our sport.
For more information, check out the Improper Use of Drugs and Medicines Fact Sheet.
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. In Australia, the manipulation of sporting competitions can also 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.
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. The Child Safeguarding and Member Protection highlight the important legal and governance responsibilities in relation to child safety and member protection. For more information on Child Safeguarding check out the Child Safeguarding Fact Sheet. For more information on Member Protection check out the Member Protection Fact Sheet.
Breaches of Integrity Policies
All alleged breaches in relation to our National Integrity Framework and associated integrity policies will be managed under 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.
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 Disciplines Fact Sheet.
Lodging a Complaint
Below are some simple tips to remember when considering lodging a complaint with Sport Integrity Australia.
- Anyone can make a complaint.
- Complaints help us take action against people who aren’t upholding the integrity standards of our sport. By speaking up – you are protecting all other people around you.
- Only complaints relating to alleged breaches of prohibited conduct under the National Integrity Framework can be submitted to Sport Integrity Australia.
- Complaints can only be actioned by Sport Integrity Australia 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).
- Complaints can only be actioned by Sport Integrity Australia if the alleged conduct occurred after July 22, 2022
- Complaints relating to selections, governance, personal grievances, whistleblower or code of conduct are not covered under the National Integrity Framework. Complaints of this nature should be submitted to the Secretary-General or the President.
More information is available on Sport Integrity Australia website
To report a breach of an integrity policy, submit directly to Sport Integrity Australia via:
Sport Integrity Australia website
Phone: 13 000 27232
For all other complaints, report directly to Handball Australia Complaint Manager via sec-gen@handballaustralia.org.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 child safeguarding, doping, match fixing, illicit drugs and ethical decision-making courses. There is also a new course specifically about the National Integrity Framework. Specific anti-doping courses are also available for coaches, support persons, medical practitioners and parents.
Athletes and officials required to complete education courses for the HA Anti-doping Education Plan can submit their ‘eLearning certificate’ to their National Team Manager or sec-gen@handballaustralia.org.au
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.
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.
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. 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 FacebookTwitter and Instagram or listen to On Side, the official podcast of Sport Integrity Australia.
