In preparation for the ASADA Enhanced Capability Act coming into force next week on the 10th August, and  to ensure that orienteering is compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code, Orienteering Australia has updated its Anti-Doping Policy (see Operational Manual Section 5.12).

One of the more significant changes in the anti-doping landscape that took place during 2020 was the creation of Sports Integrity Australia  (which opened on 1 July 2020).

From 1 July 2020, ASADA ceased to exist as an organisation and merged into Sports Integrity Australia (SIA) together with the National Integrity of Sport Unit and some functions from Sport Australia. Sport Integrity Australia became Australian’s National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO), and from an anti-doping perspective, very little else changed.

Accordingly, amendments to the ASADA Regulations were made to reflect this change, and in summary, the changes that came into effect on 1 July 2020 were:

• Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) became Sport Integrity Australia (SIA)
• Introducing reference to the National Sports Tribunal (NST) under the definition of ‘sporting tribunal’, and
• Introducing the concept of ‘lower level athlete’ (by amending the definition of ‘national event’ and ‘national level athlete’)

In its expanded role, Sport Integrity Australia was established to help protect sport against integrity threats beyond Anti-Doping, including the:

• manipulation of sporting competitions;
• use of drugs and doping methods in sport;
• abuse of children and other persons in a sporting environment;
• and failure  to  protect  participants  of  sporting  organisations  from  bullying,  intimidation, discrimination or harassment.

More information on the above changes and the impact on athletes can be found in the attached fact sheet, including information about the newly introduced ‘lower level athlete’.

Orienteering Australia’s updated Anti-Doping Policy contains more information relating to lower level athletes in section 7.9B on page 36.