Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine Policy – overview

The safe use of medicines, medical practices and supplements is vital to protect the health and wellbeing of everyone in sport. 

This needs to be supported by qualified and trusted science and medical personnel.

It helps to maintain safe and clean sport environments, and guard against the negative impact of illicit drugs on sport.
 

Improper use of drugs and medicine can:

• cause health problems
• increase an athlete’s risk of taking banned substances, even unintentionally
• damage the integrity and culture of sport, and the reputation of individuals
• be a criminal offence.
   

The Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine Policy aims to protect the health and safety of athletes and create safe and clean sport environments.

The Policy sets out behaviours that are banned in sport (called Prohibited Conduct), how to report allegations and how your sport manages these issues.

What does this Policy mean for me?

If a sport you are a member of has adopted the National Integrity Framework, then these rules apply to you.

The Policy covers every level of sport, from community clubs to state and national member organisations.

The Policy applies to all involved in your sport, with extra responsibilities for athletes and others depending on their role.

This includes:

• athletes
• coaches and officials
• administrators
• performance support practitioners (e.g. medical, sports science and allied health practitioners)
• employees and support staff (e.g. team staff, team managers, agents)
• any other individual or organisation required to agree to the Policy.

The Policy details all the behaviours that are not allowed in your sport. Refer to your sport’s national website for the full Policy, but here is a summary of banned behaviours.

Being convicted of a drug offence

• Possession or trafficking drugs is a drug offence and is banned for everyone involved in sport
• You cannot assist in or cover-up drug offences.
   

Unlawfully using or providing prescription or over-the-counter medication

• Relevant Athletes must only use and possess medications as authorised and that have been prescribed to them
• Relevant Athletes should advise their sport if prescribed or supplied medication by a medical practitioner who’s outside of the sport.
   

Injecting or possessing injection equipment without authorisation

• Other than approved self-injection for known medical conditions, only authorised health professionals or authorised carers can administer injections for Relevant Athletes.
   

Using or supplying a supplement prohibited by your sport

• Each sport has its own rules on supplement use, so it’s important to know your sport’s Policy
• Remember, no supplement is 100% safe for athletes because they do carry doping risks.
   

Failing to report and complicity

• You must report any known or suspected banned behaviours relating to drugs or medicine
• You must also never facilitate, assist in or cover-up any of these behaviours.
   

Full definitions of Prohibited Conduct for each sport are available in the Policy which can be found on your sport’s national website.

Allegations are managed under your sport’s Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy.

Depending on the seriousness of the behaviour, possible sanctions may include:

• Formal warnings
• Education
• Fines
• Bans from sport, from short-term suspensions to lifetime bans.
   

Criminal conduct, such as the possession or trafficking of illicit drugs, will be investigated by law enforcement and may result in criminal penalties.