National Integrity Framework

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 sport's 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, officials, supporters and fans can participate and celebrate sport, confident in the knowledge that they are part of a safe, ethical and inclusive environment.

Softball 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 participants.

We work closely with Sport Integrity Australia, the national coordinating agency for sport integrity threats. For more information visit the Sport Integrity Australia website.

We take sport integrity seriously and have the following policies in place:

• National Integrity Framework - Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy
• National Integrity Framework - Competition Manipulation and Sports Gambling 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
• National Sports Tribunal - Code of Conduct
• National Sports Tribunal - Conduct and Disciplinary Policy
• National Sports Tribunal - Personal Grievances Policy
• National Sports Tribunal - Review and Appeals Policy
• Whistleblower Policy

All policies and guidelines can be found here: https://www.softball.org.au/resources/forms-policies-guidelines-and-more/

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!

Softball Australia has opted-in to the independent complaints handling process for integrity-related issues run by Sport Integrity Australia.

Issues to report to Sport Integrity Australia

Concerns or complaints about alleged breaches of our National Integrity Framework relating to Doping, Child Safeguarding, or Discrimination based on features including race, disability, sex, age, sexual orientation or gender identity and religion can be reported directly to Sport Integrity Australia through the form available on the Sport Integrity Australia website.

You can view a more detailed flowchart outlining how the complaints and reporting process works.  

If people just want to share their story about integrity issues they have experienced, they can call the Safe Sport hotline on 1800 161 361. This service allows for anonymous reporting and covers wider racial and cultural issues in sport for people who feel they have been discriminated against.  

Issues to report to Softball Australia

For all other integrity matters such as alleged breaches of our National Integrity Framework relating to Non-Discrimination Member Protection matters (i.e. bullying), Competition Manipulation & Sport Wagering matters, Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine matters, and non National Integrity Framework matters such as Governance matters, Selection/eligibility disputes, Personal Grievances, Employment disputes etc please contact Softball Australia at integrity@softball.org.au

You can find more information about who manages what sport complaints via the factsheet, Sport Integrity Australia | National Integrity Framework: What is the National Integrity Framework?

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.

Athletes required to complete education can submit their ‘eLearning certificate’ to integrity@softball.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 chance of testing positive accidentally, and check whether they need a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). The app also provides direction on how to raise concerns about things like doping, match-fixing, harassment or illicit drug use. It 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 Global DRO.

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 TUE requirements. For more information on a TUE visit the Sport Integrity Australia 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.

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.

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 following policies highlight the important legal and governance responsibilities in relation to child safety and member protection.:

• Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy
• Member Protection Policy

For more information on Safeguarding, check out the Safeguarding Children and Young People Fact Sheet. 

To help 7 to 12-year-olds to understand the Safeguarding of Children and Young People Policy visit the How your sport looks after kids factsheet. 
 
To help 13 to 17-year-olds to understand the Safeguarding of Children and Young People Policy visit How your sport looks after you factsheets. 
 
For more information on Member Protection, check out the Member Protection Fact Sheet.
 
To help 7 to 12-year-olds to understand their rights in sport visit the Learn about your rights at sport factsheet.
 
To help 13 to 17-year-olds to understand their rights in sport visit Your rights at sport factsheet.
 
To help 13 to 17-year-olds understand the Member Protection Policy visit How your sport looks after all its participants factsheet.
 

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

Softball Australia’s anti-doping policy is the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy, effective 1 January 2021, and can be found on the Sport Integrity Australia website.
 
To report a breach of anti-doping rules, submit directly to Sport Integrity Australia via:  

• Sport Integrity Australia website   
• Phone: 1300 027 232   

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 athletes 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

To help 13 to 17-year-olds to understand the Improper Use of Drugs and Medicines Policy visit Protecting your sport from the Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine factsheet.

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.

Click here for Softball Australia's Competition Manipulation and Sport Gambling Policy.

In most Australian states and territories, the manipulation of sporting competitions can result in a criminal conviction and up to 10 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 and Sports Gambling Fact Sheet.

To help 13 to 17-year-olds to understand Competition Manipulation and Sports Gambling Policy visit the How we keep your competition fair and honest factsheet.

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.

The organisation responsible for managing the Complaint will depend on the type of behaviour that has been alleged.  
  
Complaints in relation to breaches under the National Integrity Framework relating to Safeguarding Children and Young People, or Discrimination based on features including race, disability, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, will be managed by Sport Integrity Australia.  All other complaints (such as selection, bullying among adults, governance, social media behaviour) are managed by Softball Australia.  
 
For more information check out the Standards and Prohibited Conduct Fact Sheet. 

Lodging a Complaint to Sport Integrity Australia

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 anti-doping rule violations or alleged breaches of the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy or that relate to Discrimination based on Protected Characteristics can be submitted to Sport Integrity Australia.
• Complaints reported to Sport Integrity Australia can only be actioned if the person who allegedly committed the behaviour is bound by our sport policies (i.e. they must have agreed to be bound by the policy via membership or other agreement). 
• Complaints relating to selection, governance, personal grievances, whistleblower or code of conduct are not covered under the National Integrity Framework. Complaints of this nature should be submitted to Softball Australia. 

To report a breach of an integrity policy relating to Safeguarding Children and Young People and Discrimination, can be done directly through the Sport Integrity Australia website. 
 
For all other complaints, please report directly to Softball Australia at integrity@softball.org.au

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