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Integrity in sport

A safe, supportive and ethical sporting environment

Integrity in sport means acting in accordance with the values of fairness, respect, responsibility, safety and equal opportunities for all those involved in sport. The aim is to ensure a safe, supportive and ethical sporting environment for athletes, coaches, referees, officials and other participants.

Report abuse

Types of abuse in sport

Any deliberate act of violence or aggression that causes physical injury or pain and is not part of the rules of the game.

Examples:

  • punches, kicks, shoving
  • training despite an injury
  • inappropriate punishments (e.g. excessive physical punishment)

Long-term or recurring behaviour that undermines an individual’s self-esteem, dignity or mental health.

Examples:

  • insults, humiliation, shouting
  • threats or intimidation
  • ignoring or isolating an athlete

Any form of unwanted sexual behaviour or exploitation.

Examples:

  • inappropriate touching
  • sexual harassment (verbal or physical)
  • blackmail for sexual favours

Failure to provide the basic conditions for safe and healthy participation in sport.

Examples:

  • inappropriate training conditions
  • lack of healthcare
  • ignoring injuries or psychological distress
  • discrimination (on grounds of gender, race, disability, etc.)
  • doping offences
  • corruption, match-fixing
  • unethical conduct by professional staff

How to recognise abuse or suspected abuse

Symptoms in athletes

  • sudden changes in behaviour (fear, withdrawal, aggression)
  • a drop in motivation or performance
  • physical injuries without a clear explanation
  • fear of a particular coach or person
  • anxiety, depression, sleep disorders

Signs in the environment

  • inappropriate communication (shouting, insults)
  • excessive or dangerous training sessions
  • isolation in isolated situations (one-to-one without supervision)
  • failure to follow safety rules

What to do

1

Recognition

Be on the lookout for signs or suspicions of inappropriate behaviour.

2

Ensure safety

If someone is in danger:

  • protects the athlete immediately
  • remove him from the dangerous situation
3

Document

  • Record the facts (what, when, where, who)
  • Do not interpret – record objectively
4

Log in

  • inform the responsible person in the organisation
  • use official application channels
5

Referral to a support service

Direct the victim to appropriate professionals.

6

Confidentiality

  • Protect the identities of those involved
  • Respect the principle of confidentiality

Contact points

Internal contact points

External contact points

Organisations helping victims

SOS Telephone Society – Help for Victims of Violence
TOM Helpline – support for children and young people
Association for Non-Violent Communication
Mental Health Centre

Includes practical examples

Examples of abuse

  • The coach shouts at the athlete and publicly humiliates him
  • An athlete must train despite an injury
  • Inappropriate physical contact between a coach and a minor athlete

Examples of suspected cases

  • The athlete has suddenly stopped coming to training
  • Common injuries with no clear explanation
  • Fear or unease around a particular person

Examples of good practice

  • The coach uses respectful communication
  • The organisation has clear rules of conduct
  • The presence of several adults when working with children

Examples of support for victims

  • listening without judgement
  • ensuring a safe environment
  • referral for specialist support
  • guidance through the application process

Our organisation is committed to

  • ensure a safe sporting environment
  • prevent all forms of abuse
  • encourage the reporting of irregularities
  • protected victims and whistleblowers
  • operate transparently and responsibly
Reporting irregularities

Have you noticed any abuse or inappropriate behaviour?

To submit an anonymous report, you can do so through the official report form, quickly, easily and securely.

Report abuse
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