Integrity
Integrity matters
Sport is an Australian way of life. It brings people together, regardless of any differences in language, ability, culture and beliefs, and it provides physical, social and economic benefits. For these reasons, it’s critical that we keep our sport safe and fair, for everyone who participates.
Integrity in sports means that athletes, volunteers, supporters and fans can participate in and celebrate sports, confident in the knowledge that they are part of a safe, fair and inclusive environment.
Threats to sports integrity include things like behaviours that impact people’s positive experience of sport, such as discrimination or abuse, illicit drug use, doping and competition manipulation.
Modern Pentathlon Australia takes integrity seriously and is committed to safeguarding our sport.
We work closely with Sport Integrity Australia, the national agency established to protect sports against integrity threats. We adopted SIA’s National Integrity Framework effective 1 January 2024.
When it comes to sport integrity, it is critical for everyone who is involved in sport, from grassroots to elite-level athletes, their 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.
Speak up!
We all play a role in protecting the integrity of our sport. If you see or hear something that doesn’t seem right, say something!
As a member of a sport that has signed up to the National Integrity Framework, you can make a complaint if you believe a fellow member has behaved poorly and potentially breached one of our policies.
If the complaint is about child safeguarding or discrimination, you can make the complaint to Sport Integrity Australia by:
- completing an online form (available here), or
- calling 1800 161 361 to speak with someone at Sport Integrity Australia directly.
All other integrity-related [I1] matters can be directed to Modern Pentathlon Australia's Integrity Manager by:
- emailing integrity@modernpentathlon.org.au, or
- calling our National Integrity Manager on 0402 980 226.
Who will manage my complaint?
Modern Pentathlon Australia works with Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) to coordinate and manage complaints and reports. Complaints received will be evaluated and either managed by Modern Pentathlon Australia, referred to SIA or an appropriate external agency, or passed back to the complainant with suggested pathways for them to pursue where the complaint is out of scope.
Other support pathways
Safe Sport Hotline
1800 161 361
7AM-7PM, 7 DAYS A WEEK, 365 DAYS A YEAR
The Safe Sport Hotline is part of an expanded service offered to members of sport to share their story with a trusted member of the Sport Integrity Australia team about integrity issues they have experienced.
The service includes an anonymous reporting capability that covers wider racial and cultural issues in sport for people who feel they have been discriminated against in their 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 and 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.
Bullying In Sport and Available Pathways
Abusive or inappropriate content online
If you have a concern about abusive or inappropriate material online, you can also 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.
Report to the eSafety Commissioner
National Integrity Framework
The National Integrity Framework is a suite of policies that sets out rules for unacceptable behaviour in pentathlon and explains the way complaints about breaches of these rules are managed.
All of the policies referred to below can be found on our Policies page, here.
Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy
This policy sets out the process for resolving complaints and disciplinary action in relation to Prohibited Conduct under the National Integrity Framework and other relevant policies such as the Code of Conduct.
It provides a best practice complaint management process that can be run by either Sport Integrity Australia or by Modern Pentathlon Australia.
Complaints, Disputes & Discipline Fact Sheet
Complaints, Disputes & Discipline Policy Video
Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy
Modern Pentathlon Australia has zero tolerance for child abuse or neglect in any form.
All children have the right to feel safe and protected from all forms of abuse, harm, and neglect. Children have the right to take part in sport in a safe, positive, and enjoyable environment.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in our sport by providing safe and inclusive environments and ensuring that everyone involved in our sport is proportionately educated and informed of their responsibilities to protect and look after children and young people.
Safeguarding Children and Young People Fact Sheet
Safeguarding Children and Young People Video
Member Protection Policy
Modern Pentathlon Australia is committed to ensuring that everyone involved with the sport is treated with respect and dignity and is protected from abuse, bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct, unlawful discrimination, victimisation, and vilification.
This policy seeks to ensure that everyone involved in our sport is aware of their rights and responsibilities. This policy sets out the standards of behaviour expected of those involved in the sport and the behaviours that are not acceptable.
Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine Policy
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 our sport.
To counter these risks, the Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine Policy 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.
Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine Fact Sheet
Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine Video
Competition Manipulation and Sport Gambling Policy
The Competition Manipulation and Sport Gambling Policy is designed to keep sport fair by protecting sporting competitions from competition manipulation (also known as match-fixing) and associated betting activity.
The policy includes definitions of Prohibited Conduct regarding sports betting and competition manipulation, provides direction on how to report concerns, and sets out best practice for National Sporting Organisations when sharing information and entering into commercial arrangements with Wagering Service Providers (WSP).
Since the manipulation of a sporting competition may also be a criminal act, this policy is also designed to protect all members from misconduct captured under legislation.
Competition Manipulation and Sport Gambling Fact Sheet
Competition Manipulation and Sport Gambling Video
Other integrity-related policies
In addition to the National Integrity Framework policies, MPA has adopted additional policies to address integrity-related issues. You can find all of the policies referred to be below on our Policies page, here.
Code of Conduct
Modern Pentathlon Australia's Code of Conduct (Code) applies to everyone who participates in pentathlon sports, including athletes, staff, coaches, support personnel and officials. The Code sets out the expected behaviours that everyone involved in pentathlon is expected to adhere to.
Prohibited Conduct under the Code is managed under the Complaints, Disputes and Disciplinary Policy.
Social Media Policy
We have adopted a Social Media Policy with the objective of establishing a culture of openness, trust and integrity in all online activities related to modern pentathlon.
Anti-doping information
What is 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.
What is anti-doping?
Anti-doping is a set of rules designed to protect athletes’ rights to participate in sport free of performance enhancing drugs. It’s anti-doping that keeps sport fair and keeps the playing field level. When athletes choose not to dope, we say they ‘compete clean’.
Anti-doping and Modern Pentathlon Australia
Modern Pentathlon Australia takes a position of zero tolerance toward doping in sport and works closely with Sport Integrity Australia in Australia and other organisations internationally to ensure a drug-free environment in our sport.
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. Sport Integrity Australia’s 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 and dried blood spot testing.
Our anti-doping policy is the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy, effective 1 January 2021. You can find it on the Sport Integrity Australia website, here.
Reporting a breach
You can report a breach of the anti-doping rules directly to Sport Integrity Australia by:
- completing an online form, available here, or
- calling 1300 027 232.
Anti-doping education, resources, and awareness
When it comes to anti-doping, it is critical that our athletes and their 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, including doping, match-fixing, illicit drugs, and ethical decision-making courses. Specific anti-doping courses are also available for coaches, support personnel, 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 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, child safeguarding or discrimination. 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 on Global DRO before they use them. Find out more, here.
Checking your substances
Global Drug Reference Online (Global DRO) allows you to check whether the most commonly prescribed and over-the-counter medicines in Australia are permitted or prohibited in our sport.
If you need to use a prohibited substance to treat a medical condition, you MUST be aware of the therapeutic use exemption (TUE) requirements. For more information on a TUE, visit the Sport Integrity Australia website, here.
Other integrity-related resources
Integrity eLearning
Sport Integrity Australia eLearning offers several 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 Commission – 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 on Facebook, X, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn or listen to On Side, the official podcast of Sport Integrity Australia.
You can also download the Sport Integrity App, which is available for free download from the Apple App Store and Google Play.
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