Sport Integrity
Protecting RDA together
RDAA is aligned with Sport Integrity Australia and the adoption of the National Integrity Framework and associated integrity policies.
This is an important step in protecting our sport and our members from integrity threats like harassment, bullying, abuse, illicit drugs and competition manipulation.
Sport should be a safe and fair place for all participants.
Staying Safe
Your safety is our first concern. If you are in Australia and in immediate danger or at risk of harm, call your local law enforcement agency or dial triple zero (000).
What is Sport Integrity?
Threats to a sport’s integrity can include competition manipulation and sports gambling, doping, the improper use of drugs and medicine, and behaviours that impact people’s positive experience of sport, such as discrimination or abuse, including against children.
Integrity in sport means that participants, officials, supporters, and fans can participate in and enjoy sport, confident in the knowledge that they are part of a safe, fair, and inclusive environment. All of our members and participants have an obligation to protect and maintain the integrity of sport, as well as the health and wellbeing of everyone involved.
We work closely with Sport Integrity Australia (SIA), the national coordination agency for sport integrity threats. For more information visit www.sportintegrity.gov.au
National Integrity Framework
At RDAA, we offer a safe place for people to raise concerns about behaviour they’ve witnessed or experienced in sport as well as find more information if they have an integrity question.
By adopting the National Integrity Framework, RDAA has six integrity policies which apply to all members of our sport who need to follow it when it comes to their behaviour and conduct in sport. In addition, all complaints about possible integrity breaches will be managed independently by Sport Integrity Australia, which we hope will ensure people feel safe to speak up about any concerns.
RDAA’s National Integrity Framework took effect from June 2022. The framework consists of six integrity-related policies, including:
- National Integrity Framework
- Member Protection Policy
- Child Safeguarding Policy
- Competition Manipulation and Sport Wagering Policy
- Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine Policy
- Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy
This means from the commencement date Sport Integrity Australia will take over the management of all complaints in relation to integrity matters for our sport. That includes, abuse, bullying and harassment.
It is important that all members and participants of RDAA understand their obligations under this Framework and in particular familiarise themselves with conduct which is prohibited within each policy.
In addition to the National Integrity Framework policies, RDAA has the following integrity policies:
1. Code of Conduct
2. Social Media.
Breaches and complaints related to these policies will be handled independently by Sport Integrity Australia. Complaints related to other RDAA polices, such as Selection Policy disputes, will remain with RDAA.
Any questions can be directed to the RDAA National Integrity Manager eo@rda.org.au
Integrity Complaints
Any member of a sport that has signed up to the National Integrity Framework, can make a Complaint if you believe a fellow member has behaved poorly and potentially breached one of the policies.
Complaints received will be evaluated and either managed by RDAA, referred to SIA or an appropriate external agency, or where the Complaint is out of scope, passed back to the complainant with suggested pathways for them to pursue.
Any complaints in relation to alleged breaches under the National Integrity Framework (including member protection, child safeguarding, misuse of drugs and medicines and competition manipulation and sports wagering) will be managed independently by Sport Integrity Australia.
The RDAA National Integrity Framework policies can be found on this page, above.
All participants in our organisation are bound by this Framework. This includes riders, coaches, support personnel, employees and volunteers.
How to submit a complaint?
If you think someone or an organisation has breached the National Integrity Framework in our sport, you can report your concern or lodge a complaint through Sport Integrity Australia or by phoning 1300 027 232.
If the Complaint is about an issue relating to child safeguarding, discrimination or anti-doping, you can make
a report to 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.
RDAA will continue to manage other complaints unrelated to these policies, such as Selection Policy disputes. For more information on the National Integrity Framework and what Sport Integrity Australia will manage, see below.
To submit a complaint, go to RDAA Form for Complaints Under the National Integrity Framework/Internal Policy
If you have any questions or concerns about the complaint process, contact RDAA Integrity Manager or Sport Integrity Australia directly.
NSO Integrity Manager is: RDAA EO email: eo@rda.org.au
NSO Complaint Manager is: RDAA EO email: eo@rda.org.au
Sport Integrity Australia: www.sportintegrity.gov.au or 1300 027 232
For further information click below.
Issues to Report to Sport Integrity Australia
Anything that may constitute Prohibited Conduct under the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy,
or that may constitute discrimination based on a protected characteristic, should be reported to Sport
Integrity Australia. This includes conduct such as:
Misconduct with a Child
Sexual behaviour with or around a child
Shaming, humiliating, intimidating or belittling a child
Causing a child physical pain or discomfort
Supplying of drugs or alcohol to a child
Discrimination based on:
• Race or ethnicity
• Age
• Disability
• Sex or sexual orientation
• Religion
Doping (managed under the sport’s Anti-Doping Policy).
You can also report any prohibited conduct under the Member Protection Policy, if it involves a child.
To report Prohibited Conduct, visit Make an Integrity Complaint or Report.
Issues to Report to RDA
RDA will manage complaints on all other National Integrity Framework (NIF) matters, as well as continuing
to manage complaints on non-NIF issues.
This includes conduct such as:
Abuse
Bullying
Harassment
Victimisation
Sexual Misconduct
Match, race or competition fixing and other types of Competition Manipulation
Supplying inside information for the purposes of gambling
Betting by members on their own sport
Unlawful use of over the counter or prescription drugs
Inappropriate use or provision of supplements
Use, possession or trafficking of illegal drugs
Concealing information about Prohibited Conduct
Selection and eligibility disputes
Competition Rules disputes
Code of Conduct breaches
Social Media Policy breaches
Governance misconduct
Employment disputes
Complaints that are solely a Personal Grievance
Whistleblower disclosures
Any conduct that occurred before your sports NIF commencement date
Any other policies that your sport has.
To report any of the above, contact RDAA Complaint Manager: RDAA EO email: eo@rda.org.au
Other Support Pathways
SAFE SPORT HOTLINE
1800 161 361
The Safe Sport Hotline is a place for anyone in sport to feel heard, seek support and guidance around integrity
matters in sport.
CONNECT WITH SUPPORT
If you, or someone you care about, is struggling with an issue, it’s okay to reach out for support.
Mental health or wellbeing support service providers.
BULLYING IN SPORT
Every person in sport, in every role, has the right to participate in an environment that is fun, safe and healthy,
and to be treated with respect, dignity and fairness.
Learn more: Bullying in sport | Sport Integrity Australia.
ABUSIVE OR INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT ONLINE
If you have a concern about abusive or inappropriate material online, you can report it to the eSafety
Commissioner for action. eSafety can investigate cyberbullying of children, adult cyber abuse, image-based
abuse (sharing, or threatening to share, intimate images without the consent of the person shown) and illegal
and restricted content.
For further information click below.
Integrity education & Resources
When it comes to sport integrity, it is critical for everyone who is involved in sport, from grassroots to elite-level athletes, parents, teachers, coaches, sport administration staff and support personnel, to be aware of their rights and responsibilities. There are a range of tools and resources available to help keep everyone informed:
Safeguarding
The 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.
Learn more here.
Our Child Safe Contact at RDA is:
Name: Steve Gatt
Position: Executive Officer
Email: eo@rda.org.au
Member Protection Policy
The Member Protection Policy is designed to protect the welfare, wellbeing and health of everyone involved in sport. It provides clear definitions of abuse, bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct, discrimination, victimisation and vilification in sport, along with information on how to report these behaviours.
Learn more here.
Improper use of Drugs and Medicine Policy
The Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine Policy is designed to protect athletes from harm caused by the improper use of medicines, supplements and illegal drugs.
Learn more here.
Anti-Doping
Doping is the use of substances or methods that are banned in sport. Doping is cheating because it gives one athlete an advantage over others. Doping is also extremely dangerous to your health and can destroy your reputation. Anti-doping is a set of rules designed to protect athletes’ rights to participate in sport free of performance enhancing drugs. Anti-doping rules apply to all participants of our sport from elite 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:
Information about supplements.
Applying for a Therapeutic Use Exemption.
To report a breach of anti-doping rules, submit directly to Sport Integrity Australia here.
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.
Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy
The Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy (CDDP) provides sport and its participants with a best practice complaint management process that can be run by either Sport Integrity Australia or the sport.
Learn more here.
Integrity eLearning
Sport Integrity Australia eLearning offers 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.
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.
eSafety Commissioner – eSafety Sport Hub
Online abuse can significantly impact sport members and organisations. The eSafety Commissioner is Australia’s national independent regulator and educator for online safety. eSafety provides guidance on online safety issues including cyberbullying, adult
cyber abuse, image-based abuse and illegal or restricted content. eSafety can help to get harmful online content removed if it meets the legal threshold for investigation.
The eSafety Sport hub provides resources to help the sports community,
including information on how to recognise online abuse and deal with online abuse in sport, as well as tailored advice for sport administrators, coaches and officials, and athletes and competitors.
Stay up to Date
Keep up to date with all that is happening in sport integrity by following Sport Integrity Australia by following SIA on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn or listen to On Side, the official podcast of SIA.
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, 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 App Store and Google Play.