Sport Integrity

Sports Integrity Australia Preamble (Who are Sports Integrity Australia?)

Sport is an Australian way of life. It brings people together, transcending differences in language, ability, cultures, and beliefs, and provides physical, social, and economic benefits.

The Australian Karate Federation National Integrity Framework applies to all Activities organised or authorised by Australian Karate Federation (AKF) or a Member Organisation and will be adopted in full by each Karate Organisation.

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, support persons, and fans can participate and celebrate sport, confident in the knowledge that they are part of a safe, ethical, and inclusive environment.

The Australian Karate Federation 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.

On this page, you will find our integrity rules as outlined by the National Integrity Framework, education and training resources, information about different topics and instructions on how to lodge a complaint.

If you have questions regarding any of the information below, please contact:

Aashiqah Dickinson
p: 0488 020 822
e: integrity@karateaustralia.org.au

Integrity Policies

The Australian Karate Federation’s integrity policies fall under two categories. These are National Integrity Framework and Non-National Integrity Framework policies

NATIONAL INTEGRITY FRAMEWORK

Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy
This policy protects children in the Australian Karate Federation by putting in place rules and processes to ensure sporting environments are inclusive, positive, and safe for all children, all the time.
Competition Manipulation and Sport Gambling Policy
This policy keeps Karate fair by protecting sporting competitions from competition manipulation (also known as match-fixing) and associated betting activity.
Member Protection Policy
This policy protects the welfare, wellbeing, and health of everyone involved in Karate. 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.
Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine Policy
This policy protects athletes from harm caused by the improper use of medicines, supplements, and illegal drugs.
Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy
This policy provides the Australian Karate Federation and its participants with an independent and impartial complaint management process run by Sport Integrity Australia.

This means when someone wants to make a formal Complaint about allegations of Prohibited Conduct, it will be Evaluated and Assessed independently by Sport Integrity Australia, removing any risk of a conflict of interest or perceptions of bias.

NON-NATIONAL INTEGRITY FRAMEWORK

Australian Karate Federation Constitution
National Team Selection Policy
National Team Selection Policy Appeal Protocol
AKF Privacy Policy
AKF Referee Commission Rules & Competition Regulations Feb 2020

Additional Information and Resources

Some integrity policies can be difficult to understand. Thankfully, there are several additional resources available to help you understand the Australian Karate Federation’s integrity policies.

NATIONAL INTEGRITY FRAMEWORK

Sport Integrity Australia - National Integrity Framework Resources for Members of Sport
Sport Integrity Australia’s resource portal for all things relating to the National Integrity Framework – including explanations of all National Integrity Policies and information for children and young people
What is the National Integrity Framework?
A short guide to help you understand what the National Integrity Framework is and how it works.
Understanding the National Integrity Framework
A booklet with information about the National Integrity Framework, its policies, and Prohibited Conduct.
What is Prohibited Conduct?
A short guide to what behaviours are not allowed under the National Integrity Framework.
Sport Integrity Australia Complaints Process Resources
A suite of resources explaining how Sport Integrity Australia’s Complaints Process works.
Sport Integrity Australia Complaints Process in 5 Steps
A short guide explaining how Sport Integrity Australia’s Complaints Process works.
Sport Integrity Australia Video Resources

NON-NATIONAL INTEGRITY FRAMEWORK

Sport Integrity Australia Anti-Doping Resources
Sport Integrity Australia Anti-Doping Video Resources

Making a Complaint

As of 3 October 2022, the Australian Karate Federation has commenced the National Integrity Framework. This means that Complaints relating to National Integrity Framework policies which occurred after this date will be handled by Sport Integrity Australia through their independent complaints process.
Unacceptable behaviours under National Integrity Framework policies are known as Prohibited Conduct.
Under the National Integrity Framework, anything that may constitute Prohibited Conduct must be reported to Sport Integrity Australia.
Sport Integrity Australia will also manage issues relating to the Australian Karate Federation’s Anti-Doping policy.
The Australian Karate Federation will continue to manage Non-National Integrity Framework issues, and any issues which occurred before the commencement date.

NATIONAL INTEGRITY FRAMEWORK
(Complaints Managed by Sport Integrity Australia)

The full list of Prohibited Conduct is available here, but includes things such as:

Abuse
Bullying
Harassment
Sexual Misconduct
Unlawful Discrimination
Victimisation
Misconduct with a Child
Grooming
Supply of Drugs or Alcohol to a Child
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

To report Prohibited Conduct, visit www.sportintegrity.gov.au/making-integrity-complaint-or-report

NON-NATIONAL INTEGRITY FRAMEWORK
(Complaints Managed by the Australian Karate Federation)

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
Any conduct that occurred before 3 October 2022
Any other conduct prohibited under additional non-National Integrity Framework policies.

To report any of the above, contact the Integrity Complaints Manager:

Aashiqah Dickinson
p: 0488 020 822
e: integrity@karateaustralia.org.au

Integrity Education

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 several online courses relating to sport integrity. There are new courses specifically about the National Integrity Framework, as well as specific anti-doping courses are also available for coaches, support persons, medical practitioners and parents

NATIONAL INTEGRITY FRAMEWORK

National Integrity Framework
Child Safeguarding in Sport Induction
Competition Manipulation and Sports Betting Course
Introduction to Illicit Drugs in Sport

NON-NATIONAL INTEGRITY FRAMEWORK

Anti-Doping Fundamentals
Annual Update
Whereabouts Course
Medical Practitioners Course
Coaches Course
Parents Guide to Clean Sport Course

For certain people, eLearning courses are mandatory under the Australian Karate Federation’s Sport Integrity Australia Anti-Doping Plan. See the chart below for these requirements.

[CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPEMENT WITH SPORT INTEGRITY EDUCATION]

[Anyone required to complete these courses will be able to submit their ‘eLearning certificate’ on the Karate Australia website]

Sport Integrity app
The Sport Integrity app is a one-stop shop for all sport integrity needs, downloaded by more than 50,000 Australian athletes and support staff.
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 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 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.
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. For more information on a Therapeutic Use Exemptions visit Sport Integrity Australia’s 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, 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.