Policies & Integrity

SBNSW is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all Children/Young People that are involved in our sport. Our policies and procedures seek to address risks to Child safety and to establish Child safe culture and practices. The ABSC and all State associations have adopted a comprehensive commitment statement as part of the NIF.

The full text is available HERE

Sport and recreation are a major part of Australia’s way of life and its social history. They draw people together, and act as a bridge to overcome differences in culture, values, genders, age, language and ability. They also provide significant physical, social, economic and community benefits.

Snooker & Billiards NSW, in conjunction with the Australian Billiards & Snooker Council (ABSC) and the other State associations have worked hard to foster and maintain a healthy and inclusive culture in the sport.

To help ensure that all members enjoy their snooker and billiards fully, SBNSW, the ABSC and the other State associations have adopted identical policies under the National Integrity Framework (NIF) with the support and guidance of the national coordination agency for sport integrity threats Sport Integrity Australia.

For more information about Sport Integrity Australia visit www.sportintegrity.gov.au.

The NIF is designed to help all participants – from club players and officials through to National champions - manage issues relating to competition-manipulation, doping, child safety, discrimination and abuse. Importantly, it sets out a clear and consistent process for dealing with any problems that arise, at all levels of the sport.

SBNSW thinks adoption of the NIF is an important and positive step in helping us make snooker and billiards more accessible, fun and safe to play for generations of participants to come.

What does Sport Integrity Mean?

In the recently developed Strategic Plan the ABSC Board adopted Integrity as one of the cornerstone values which should guide behaviour in all aspects of our sport. The Board believes that:

Honesty, transparency and accountability are fundamental to our approach to running and participating in the sport, underpinned by an absolute commitment to fair play and applying our rules and processes with consistency and impartiality.

In the context of snooker and billiards this means that our players, officials and spectators can participate in and enjoy the sport, confident in the knowledge that they are part of a safe, fair, and inclusive environment.

All of our members and anyone else involved at any level with snooker and billiards have an obligation to protect and maintain the integrity of our sport, as well as the health and wellbeing of everyone involved – Protecting Snooker and Billiards Together

There are four core policies which make up the National Integrity Framework. These are:

1. Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy

2. Member Protection Policy

3. Improper Use of Drugs and Medicine Policy

4. Competition Manipulation and Sports Gambling Policy

These core policies are underpinned by the 5. Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy which explains the process by which complaints are managed and how people who have breached a National Integrity Framework policy are held accountable.

The ABSC has also adopted two other specific policies which sit outside the NIF and which set out the standards of behaviour expected from all participants in our sport, both on-line and in person:

6. Social Media Policy

7. Code of Conduct

Breaches of both these policies are also managed via the processes set out in the Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy.

The ABSC and all the State associations have adopted identical versions of these policies to ensure that there is absolute consistency in the way integrity issues are managed around the country.

For more information check out the National Integrity Framework video and Factsheets at: SIA - NIF Guide

Threats to snooker and billiard’s integrity can include competition manipulation and sports gambling, doping, the improper use of drugs and medicine and behaviours that impact people’s positive experience of sport, such as discrimination or abuse, including against children.

Two guides to the types of behaviours that are a threat to the integrity of our sport, and which are prohibited under the NIF, are available at:

General Guide: Standards & Prohibited Conduct Guide

Detailed Guide: Detailed Prohibited Conduct Resource

Thankfully, in our sport serious cases such as these are isolated. However, given sport is a snapshot of society, from time-to-time poor behaviour such as lack of respect, bad sportsmanship, discrimination and inappropriate comments do occur.

The National Integrity Framework is designed to help the ABSC, Member States and their individual members identify, manage and resolve threats to the integrity of the sport, and do so in a transparent and consistent way.

Any Member of a State Billiards & Snooker Association can make a Complaint or lodge a report if they believe a fellow member has behaved poorly and potentially breached one of the policies. Most complaints should be lodged directly with the ABSC (not your State association) apart from those involving child safety matters or discrimination which will be handled by SIA directly.

Depending on the nature and severity of the potential breach, the ABSC may delegate local or minor matters to be managed by the relevant State association.

The graphic attached HERE lists what threats are the responsibility of Sport Integrity Australia, and what will be managed by the ABSC or its delegate.

Everyone - players, officials, parents, support personnel, administrators and supporters - play a role in protecting the integrity of our sport. If you see or hear something that doesn’t feel right to you, make sure you speak up!

Lodging a Complaint or Report to the ABSC

Most complaints and reports will be about non-SIA matters, and should be directed to the ABSC in the first instance. The ABSC will delegate most local or minor matters to be handled by the relevant State association, but will deal directly with more serious issues. The ABSC is ultimately responsible for the management of all complaints, ensuring that the proper processes are followed and reporting to SIA.

All matters, whether they are dealt with by the ABSC or a State association, will be managed in the same way – in line with the Complaints, Disputes & Discipline Policy. This includes alleged breaches of the ABSC Code of Conduct and Social Media Policy.

Anyone can make a complaint or report an issue of concern to the ABSC Integrity Manager at integrity@absc.com.au or completing the ABSC Complaint Form

Questions about any integrity related matters can be directed to the ABSC Integrity Manager:

Name: Simon Fortune

Position: Integrity Manager, Australian Billiards & Snooker Council Ltd

Email and/or Phone: integrity@absc.com.au or +61 412 379 516

Lodging a Complaint to Sport Integrity Australia

Below are some simple tips to remember when considering lodging a complaint with Sport Integrity Australia:

• Only complaints relating to anti-doping rule violations or alleged breaches of the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy or that relate to Discrimination based on Protected Characteristics can be submitted to Sport Integrity Australia.

• Anyone can make a complaint.

• Complaints reported to Sport Integrity Australia can only be actioned if the person who allegedly committed the behaviour is bound by our sport policies (i.e. they must have agreed to be bound by the policy via membership or other agreement). 

• Complaints relating to selection, governance, personal grievances, whistleblower or code of conduct are not covered under the National Integrity Framework. Complaints of this nature should be submitted to the ABSC. 

Complaints can be lodged with Sport Integrity Australia here: Make a Complaint to SIA or by calling 1300 027 232.

All alleged breaches in relation to our National Integrity Framework and associated integrity policies will be managed under the Complaints, Disputes and Discipline Policy, which sets out the process for resolving complaints arising from a breach of an eligible policy.

A Step-By-Step guide to the complaints process is available here: NIF Complaints Management Step-By-Step

If an alleged breach is found to be substantiated the ABSC may require the individual concerned to undertake education and awareness training or may impose a range of other sanctions depending on the nature and severity of the breach.

SIA has issued guidelines to help organisations categorise complaints and decide on the type of sanctions to be imposed in each case. These guidelines are available here: Guidance for Complaints Management and Sanctioning

The emphasis will always be on education to ensure that poor behaviours are not repeated, and sanctions such as bans from play will only be imposed for severe or repeat offences.

SPORTS INTEGRITY AUSTRALIA

When it comes to sport integrity, it is critical for everyone who is involved in sport, from grassroots to elite-level players, their parents, teachers, coaches, sport administration staff and support personnel, are aware of their rights and responsibilities.

SIA has a wide range of tools and resources available on its website and social media channels to help keep everyone informed, including e-Learning modules, and these are constantly updated. Videos, factsheets and links are available on many topics including:

• SAFEGUARDING YOUNG PEOPLE

• BULLYING IN SPORT

• MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING

• ON-LINE SAFETY

• NIF POLICIES

• e-LEARNING COURSES

The SIA resource library can be accessed at SIA Resources

You can also download the Sport Integrity App, which provides direction on how to raise concerns about things like doping, child safeguarding or discrimination, further information on eLearning modules, and 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 is free and can be downloaded from the Apple and Android app stores. 

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. Issue 42 of the Play By The Rules magazine contains a valuable summary of the NIF: Play By The Rules Magazine

ANTI-DOPING INFORMATION

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.

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 Snooker and Billiards

The ABSC takes a position of zero tolerance toward doping in sport and works closely with Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) in Australia and the World Snooker Federation and International Billiards & Snooker Federation 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.

The Sport Integrity Australia website has a range of information and resources to assist, including: 

• information about supplements 

• applying for a Therapeutic Use Exemption 

• information about athlete testing 

• the Prohibited List (prohibited substances)

The ABSC anti-doping policy is the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy, effective 1 January 2021, and can be found on the Sport Integrity Australia website.

To report a breach of anti-doping rules, submit directly to Sport Integrity Australia via: 

• Sport Integrity Australia complaint form; or  

• Call 1300 027 232