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.

The Australian Kendo Renmei 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 national agency established to protect sport against integrity threats. For more information visit the Sport Integrity Australia website.

* ‘Sport’ is inclusive of the Martial Arts Kendo, Iaido and Jodo in the context of sport integrity.

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!

Australian Kendo Renmei has opted-in to the complaints handling process for integrity-related issues run by Sport Integrity Australia.

From 30 June 2022 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, sexual orientation and gender identity can be reported directly to Sport Integrity Australia by submitting a formal complaint or reporting a concern through the form on the Sport Integrity Australia website.

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

Our integrity rules

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

  • Member Protection
  • Safeguarding Children and Young People
  • Improper Use of Drugs & Medicines
  • Competition Manipulation and Sports Gambling
  • Complaints, Disputes & Discipline
  • Anti-doping

All policies and guidelines can be found here.

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.

National Integrity Framework resources

Want to know more about the national Integrity Framework? See the Sport Integrity Australia resources page

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 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, 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.

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:

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 Disciplines Policy (Updated 21/10/2023) 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 relating to Child Safeguarding or Discrimination based on features including race, disability, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, will be managed by Sport Integrity Australia with all other complaints being managed by Australian Kendo Renmei.

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 anti-doping rule violations, alleged breaches of prohibited conduct under the National Integrity Framework relating to Child Safeguarding and Discrimination 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).
  • 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 Australian Kendo Renmei.

Report a breach of an integrity policy relating to Child Safeguarding and Discrimination directly through the Sport Integrity Australia website.

For all other complaints, report directly to the AKR Complaints Manager by emailing a fully completed AKR Complaints Form to complaintsmanager@kendoaustralia.asn.au