Sport Legislation Amendment (World Anti-Doping Code Implementation)

1. National-level athletes who are not international-level athletes could ask the independent National Sports TribunalAustralia’s independent specialist body for resolving sporting disputes. to review a refusal to let them use an otherwise banned substance or method for medical reasons. This would replace review by a panel within the Australian Sports Drug Medical Advisory Committee. However, medical-use applications lodged but unresolved before 1 January 2027 would be dealt with by the existing review panel.

2. Sport Integrity AustraliaThe Australian government agency responsible for the national anti-doping program.’s chief executive, rather than each sport, would impose temporary suspensions and penalties for doping violations. A temporary suspension could be imposed by agreement or in specified serious cases involving certain banned substances or methods. The chief executive could lift a mandatory suspension on grounds set by the anti-doping scheme, including that the person is likely to be cleared or found not at fault, or has already served more time than the proposed ban. Final penalties would require the person to agree that they broke the rule and accept the penalty; disputed cases could still go to an independent sports tribunal.

3. For anti-doping disputes other than medical-use permission cases, the person involved and Sport Integrity AustraliaThe Australian government agency responsible for the national anti-doping program.’s chief executive would have to be parties to the case. The relevant sporting body would no longer have to be a party, although it or another eligible body could choose to join.

4. The national anti-doping scheme could authorise Sport Integrity AustraliaThe Australian government agency responsible for the national anti-doping program.’s chief executive to publish information about possible violations, not only declared violations. Sport Integrity AustraliaThe Australian government agency responsible for the national anti-doping program. would generally have to publish details of a final penalty within 20 days of its chief executive learning that the appeal deadline passed without an appeal, an appeal finished or the person waived the right to appeal. It would also have 20 days from learning that someone competed or took part in restricted activities while temporarily suspended or banned.

5. Publication would not be automatic when a person is cleared of a doping violation or found not at fault. Before publishing, the chief executive would have to consider consent, whether the person’s identity was already public and the public interest. For minors, recreational athletes and people whose mental capacity affects their understanding of the rules, disclosure would have to be proportionate and consider their best interests; transparency could be considered only as a secondary concern in exceptional circumstances.

6. A person would no longer automatically remain legally classified as an athlete for six months after last competing. Sport Integrity AustraliaThe Australian government agency responsible for the national anti-doping program. could still act where the person remained covered by the national anti-doping scheme or their sport’s policy.

7. The law’s definition of an International Standard would expand to include technical letters issued under the World Anti-Doping Code, as well as technical documents.

8. The main changes would start on the later of 1 January 2027 or 28 days after Royal AssentThe formal approval that turns a bill passed by Parliament into law..

No recorded votes have been found yet for this bill.