Book D – D1.1

INTEGRITY CODE OF CONDUCT(Approved by Council on 14 August 2023 effective immediately)

Book D – D1.1

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Specific Definitions
The words and phrases used in these Rules that are defined terms (denoted by initial capitalletters) shall have the meanings specified in the Constitution and the Generally Applicable
Definitions, or (in respect of the following words and phrases) the following meanings:“Applicable Persons” means the persons described in Rule 1 of this Integrity Code.
“Candidacy Rules” means the Candidacy Rules.
“Competition Rules” means section C.1.1 of Chapter C.1 (International Competitions) of theBook of Rules.
“Conflicts, Disclosures and Gifts Rules” means the Conflicts, Disclosures and Gifts Rules.
“Disciplinary and Appeals Tribunal Rules” means the Disciplinary and Appeals Tribunal
Rules.
“Doping” and “Doping Violation” means a violation of Rule 3.3.3 of this Integrity Codeincluding an anti-doping rule violation under the Anti-Doping Rules.
“Ethics Board Proceedings” means all of the stages under the applicable procedural rulesof the predecessor Code of ethics, including the Former Code of Ethics, including complaints,
investigations, notifications, hearings and adjudications.
“Event Bidding Rules” means the Rules applicable to Members and candidate cities wishing
to host competitions of the World Athletics Series.
“Integrity Standards” means the standards described in Rule 3 of this Integrity Code.
“Integrity Unit Rules” means the Athletics Integrity Unit Rules.
“Jury of Appeal” means the body described in Rule 12 of the Competition Rules.
“Manipulation of Sports Competitions Rules” means the Manipulation of Sports
Competitions Rules.
“Non-Doping Violation” means a violation of this Integrity Code of Conduct which is not a
Doping Violation.
“Procedural Rules Applicable Under This Integrity Code” means rules setting out theprocedures for dealing with alleged violations of the Integrity Code of Conduct including
reporting, investigating, prosecuting and deciding such violations and includes the Integrity
Unit Rules, the Reporting, Investigations and Prosecution Rules – Non-Doping, theDisciplinary and Appeals Tribunal Rules and the Anti-Doping Rules.
“Referee” means the person described in Rule 18 of the Competition Rules.
“Reporting, Investigation and Prosecution Rules – Non-Doping” means the Athletics
Integrity Unit Reporting, Investigation and Prosecution Rules – Non-Doping.
“Staff” means any person employed or engaged by World Athletics to undertake work for it,or on its behalf (including those employed or engaged to work with the Integrity Unit, unlessspecified otherwise).

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“Technical Delegate” means the person described in Rule 5 of the Competition Rules.
“Technical Rules” means section C2.1 of Chapter C.2 (Technical Rules) of the Book ofRules.

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1.

Application of the Integrity Code of Conduct1.1

This Integrity Code of Conduct applies to the following persons and entities(“Applicable Persons”):
1.1.1

Officials or persons seeking to become Officials; “Officials” has themeaning described in the Constitution;

1.1.2

Area Officials subject to Rule 1.2; “Area Officials” has the meaning
described in the Constitution;

1.1.3

Member Federation Officials subject to Rule 1.2; “Member Federation
Officials” has the meaning described in the Constitution; (as defined in theConstitution)

1.1.4

Persons and entities bidding to host, or hosting, International
Competitions;

1.1.5

Persons who are engaged by or acting on behalf of World Athletics
including Staff;

1.1.6

Persons and entities who are participating in Athletics in International
Competitions, including but not limited to Athletes and Athlete Support
Personnel;

1.1.7

Such other persons who agree in writing to be bound by this Integrity Codeof Conduct or who are bound to this Integrity Code of Conduct by virtue of
the Rules applying to them, which Rules are incorporated into this Integrity
Code of Conduct.

1.2

As specified in Article 75.1(b) of the Constitution, this Integrity Code of Conduct shall
only apply to Area Officials and Member Federation Officials limited to their relations
or dealings with World Athletics.

1.3

All Applicable Persons will be deemed to have agreed:
1.3.1

that it is their personal responsibility to familiarise themselves with all of therequirements of this Integrity Code of Conduct, including what conduct
constitutes a violation of this Integrity Code of Conduct;

1.3.2

to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Disciplinary and Appeals Tribunal
to hear and determine charges brought pursuant to the Procedural Rules of
the Integrity Code of Conduct; and,

1.3.3

not to bring any proceedings in any court or other forum that are inconsistent
with the foregoing submission to the jurisdiction of the Disciplinary andAppeals Tribunal.

2.

Effective Date & Transitional Provisions

2.1

Subject to this Rule 2, the Integrity Code of Conduct will come into effect as of 14
August 2023 (the ‘Effective Date’). It replaces and supersedes the Integrity Code of
Conduct in force prior to the Effective Date.

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2.2

Conduct which may give rise to a Safeguarding Concern shall be dealt with pursuant
to the Safeguarding Rules whenever that conduct occurred.

2.3

This Integrity Code of Conduct will apply in full to all cases where the violation occurs
after the Effective Date.

2.4

Subject to Rule 2.2 above, any case pending prior to the Effective Date, or brought
after the Effective Date but based on a violation that occurred prior to the Effective
Date, will be governed by the Former Integrity Rules in force at the time the violation
occurred save that:a.

the Procedural Rules of the Integrity Code of Conduct will apply in place of theprocedural rules in force at the time;b.

the Disciplinary and Appeals Tribunal may decide to apply the provisions of thisIntegrity Code of Conduct where doing so benefits the person charged with theviolation based on the doctrine of lex mitior.

2.5

For the avoidance of doubt, the Integrity Unit will have jurisdiction and authority toinvestigate and prosecute alleged violations of the Former Integrity Rules before theDisciplinary and Appeals Tribunal.

2.6

Subject to Rule 2.2 above, in any matter that concerns an alleged violation of both thisIntegrity Code of Conduct and the Former Integrity Rules arising out of the same
incident or set of facts, or where there is a link between separate incidents, the Integrity
Unit will decide whether to pursue the alleged violation under this Integrity Code of
Conduct and/or under the Former Integrity Rules. Either way, all such alleged
violations will be governed by the Procedural Rules of this Integrity Code of Conduct
with any charges to be heard and decided by the Disciplinary and Appeals Tribunal as
if such charges arose solely and exclusively under this Integrity Code of Conduct.

2.7

Any complaint or information concerning an alleged violation of this Integrity Code of
Conduct (or the Former Integrity Rules) shall be reported to the Integrity Unit, in
accordance with this Integrity Code of Conduct and the applicable Procedural Rules of
the Integrity Code of Conduct.

2.8

The Integrity Unit shall decide whether to investigate and prosecute any violation ofthis Integrity Code of Conduct (or the Former Integrity Rules) in accordance with theapplicable Procedural Rules of the Integrity Code of Conduct.

2.9

The Disciplinary and Appeals Tribunal shall hear and decide all alleged violations of
this Integrity Code of Conduct (and the Former Integrity Rules) filed with it by the
Integrity Unit in accordance with the Disciplinary and Appeals Tribunal Rules and theAnti-Doping Rules, as applicable.

3.

Integrity Standards

3.1

In order to protect the integrity, authenticity and reputation of Athletics, World Athletics
requires all Applicable Persons to meet the highest ethical standards in its governanceand administration (“Integrity Standards”).

3.2

These Integrity Standards apply to each Applicable Person in connection with Athletics
or otherwise, subject to Rule 1.2 and this Integrity Code.

3.3

The Integrity Standards require of Applicable Persons:

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3.3.1

Honesty: to act with utmost integrity and honesty at all times including
acting in good faith towards others and with mutual trust andunderstanding in all their dealings and in particular not to forge any
document, falsify any authentic document or use a forged or falsified
document;

3.3.2

Fulfil Duties: to actively fulfil their duties and responsibilities to World
Athletics with all due care and skill and in good faith and in particular not
to act outside of their authority;

3.3.3

Clean Athletics: to protect clean athletes and not engage in Doping, andin particular to comply with the Anti-Doping Rules;

3.3.4

Maintain Integrity of Competition: to ensure the integrity of, and not toimproperly benefit from, Athletics competitions, and in particular to comply
with the Manipulation of Sports Competitions Rules;

3.3.5

Disclose Interests: to ensure conflicts of interest are minimised andinterests properly disclosed as specified in the Vetting Rules and theConflicts, Disclosures and Gifts Rules;

3.3.6

Minimal Gifts and Benefits: to ensure that any gifts, hospitality or otherbenefits which are offered, promised, given or received are strictly inaccordance with the Conflicts, Disclosures and Gifts Rules and any
related guidelines and in particular:a.

not to engage in any form of conduct in which there is an abuse of
entrusted power for private gain;b.

not to offer any bribe, payment, commission, gift, donation, kickback,facilitation payment, or other inducement or incentive (whether
monetary or otherwise) in order to influence decision-making in
relation to any matter involving World Athletics;c.

not accept any bribe, payment, commission, gift, donation, kickback,facilitation payment, or other inducement or incentive (whether
monetary or otherwise) that is offered, promised or sent to influence
their actions or decisions in relation to any matter involving World
Athletics (including, without limitation, in relation to events andcommercial activities);

3.3.7

Protect Assets: to protect the assets of World Athletics and only use
or authorise others to use them within the authority granted, and inparticular not to misappropriate any such assets regardless of whether
this is carried out directly or indirectly through, or in conjunction with,intermediaries or related parties;

3.3.8

Proper Conduct: to conduct themselves in a professional andcourteous manner and in particular to refrain from using language or
conduct that is obscene, offensive or of an insulting nature towards
another person;

3.3.9

Equality: not to unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, sex,ethnic origin, colour, culture, religion, political opinion, marital status,

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sexual orientation or other differences and in particular to encourage
and actively support equality of gender in Athletics;

3.4

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3.3.10Dignity: to respect the dignity of individuals;

3.3.11

Maintain Confidentiality: to keep confidential all information which is
entrusted to them in confidence unless permitted to disclose suchinformation under the Constitution, any Rule or this Integrity Code, or
required to disclose such information by law. In addition, information
obtained in connection with an Applicable Person’s role or activities inAthletics that is not confidential may not be disclosed for personal gain
or benefit, nor be used maliciously to damage the reputation of any
person or organisation;

3.3.12

Fair Elections: to conduct their candidacy for any role or position
within World Athletics, Area Association or Member with honesty,
fairness, and respect for others and as otherwise specified in the
Candidacy Rules;

3.3.13

Fair Bidding: to conduct their candidacy for any bid or proposal tohost any International Competitions with honesty, fairness, andrespect for others and as otherwise specified in the Event Bidding
Rules;

3.3.14

Neutrality: to remain politically neutral in their dealings on behalf ofWorld Athletics with government institutions, national and internationalorganisations;3.3.15

Reporting: to promptly report to the Integrity Unit any act, thing or
information which the person becomes aware of, which may constitute(on its own or with other information) a violation of this Integrity Codeor the Safeguarding Rules.

3.3.16

Protect Reputation: to protect the reputation of World Athletics andnot act, or fail to act, in any manner which may:a.

adversely affect the reputation of World Athletics or Athletics
generally; or,b.

bring World Athletics or Athletics generally into disrepute; or,c.

be contrary to the objects of World Athletics; or,d.

be prejudicial to, or adversely affect the interests of, World Athletics
or Athletics generally.

Non-compliance with (or causing any other person not to comply with) any of the Rules
and Regulations may amount to a breach of the Integrity Standards or may be dealt
with in accordance with any provisions of the applicable Rule or Regulation alleged to
be breached or in accordance with the Disputes and Disciplinary Proceedings Rules.
Any action taken under the applicable Rules or Regulations or the Disputes andDisciplinary Proceedings Rules does not limit or prejudice the Integrity Unit frompursuing the same conduct as a breach of this Integrity Code.

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4.

Safeguarding

4.1

The Safeguarding Rules are established to deal with Safeguarding Concerns inrelation to those people set out in Rule 2.1 of the Safeguarding Rules. Reports of
Safeguarding Concerns will be dealt with in accordance with the procedures set out in
the Safeguarding Rules.

4.2

Where Prohibited Conduct (as defined in the Safeguarding Rules) also amounts to abreach of this Integrity Code of Conduct, the Integrity Unit may also take action in
relation to Applicable Persons pursuant to this Integrity Code of Conduct. Any action
taken by the Integrity Unit pursuant to this Integrity Code of Conduct does not limit or
prejudice a report of the Prohibited Conduct as a Safeguarding Concern and thesubsequent handling of it in accordance with the procedures set out in the
Safeguarding Rules.

5.

Violations of this Integrity Code

5.1

Subject to Rule 5.2, it shall be a violation of this Integrity Code of Conduct for an
Applicable Person on or after the Effective Date to violate or fail to comply with any
one or more of the Integrity Standards set out in Rule 3 (whether a Doping Violation ora Non-Doping Violation).

5.2

The following matters are not covered by this Integrity Code of Conduct and shall notconstitute a violation of the Integrity Code of Conduct:
5.2.1

any protests made on-site but prior to the competition concerning the statusof an Athlete to compete in the competition in question, under the TechnicalRules. The decision of the Technical Delegate in such cases will be subject
to a right of appeal to the Jury of Appeal. The decision of the Jury of Appeal(or of the Technical Delegate(s) in the absence of a Jury of Appeal or if noappeal to the Jury of Appeal is made) will be final; and,5.2.2

any protests or disputes arising out of the field of play during a competition,
including, without limitation, protests concerning the result or conduct of anevent as specified in the Technical Rules. The decision of the Referee in suchcases will be subject to a right of appeal to the Jury of Appeal. The decisionof the Jury of Appeal (or of the Referee in the absence of a Jury of Appeal or
if no appeal to the Jury of Appeal is made) will be final. For the avoidance
doubt, any matters concerning the conduct of any Person arising out of, inconnection with or on the field of play at a World Rankings Competition whichis reported to or identified by the Disciplinary Officer shall be dealt with inaccordance with the procedures set out in the Disputes and Disciplinary
Proceedings Rules.

5.3

It shall also be a violation of this Integrity Code of Conduct for an Applicable Person toattempt, or agree with another person or entity, to act in a manner that would constituteor culminate in the commission of a violation of this Integrity Code, whether or not suchattempt or agreement in fact resulted in a violation. However there shall be no violation
where the Applicable Person renounces their attempt or agreement prior to it being
discovered by a third party not involved in the attempt or agreement.

5.4

Applicable Persons shall also violate this Integrity Code of Conduct if they assist,encourage, aid, abet, conspire, cover up or engage in any other type of intentional
complicity involving a violation or attempted violation of this Integrity Code or the
Safeguarding Rules.

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5.5

Applicable Persons shall also violate this Integrity Code of Conduct if they:
5.5.1

refuse or fail without compelling justification to cooperate with any reasonable
investigation carried out by the Integrity Unit or other competent authority inrelation to a possible violation of this Integrity Code, and this shall constitutea violation of the Integrity Code, including without limitation refusing or failingto provide accurately, completely and without any undue delay any
information and/or documentation and/or access or assistance requested by
the Integrity Unit or other competent authority as part of such investigation; orif they commit any act which threatens or seeks to intimidate another personwith the intent of discouraging that person from the good faith reporting of
information to the relevant body or authority that relates to a possible violationof this Integrity Code of Conduct or the Safeguarding Rules; and5.5.2

obstruct or delay any investigation that may be carried out by the Integrity Unit(or its designee) or other competent authority in relation to a possible violationof this Integrity Code. This shall constitute a violation of this Integrity Code,including without limitation concealing, tampering with or destroying any
documentation or other information that may be relevant to the investigation.

5.6

Conduct which may constitute the commission of a violation of this Integrity Code of
Conduct may also amount to a criminal offence and/or a breach of other applicablelaws or regulations. This Integrity Code of Conduct is intended to supplement suchlaws and regulations with further rules of conduct for those involved in the sport ofAthletics. It is not intended, and should not be interpreted, construed or applied, toprejudice or undermine in any way the application of such laws and regulations (whichmust be complied with at all times).

5.7

Where a member of Staff’s conduct may breach of the Integrity Standards, the matter
will be dealt with by World Athletics pursuant to any of World Athletics’ employment
rules or policies or consultancy contracts as appropriate and not as a breach of thisIntegrity Code of Conduct.

5.8

It is acknowledged that Applicable Persons may also be subject to other rules ofMember Federations that govern discipline and/or conduct and that the same conductof such persons may constitute not only a violation of this Integrity Code of Conduct
but also such other rules that may apply. For the avoidance of doubt, such persons
acknowledge and agree that:
5.8.1

this Integrity Code of Conduct is not intended to limit the responsibilities ofany person under such other rules; and,

5.8.2

nothing in such other rules will be capable of removing, superseding or
amending in any way the jurisdiction of the Disciplinary and Appeals Tribunal
to determine matters properly arising pursuant to this Integrity Code.

6.

Reporting

6.1

Every Applicable Person has an obligation to report, as soon as practicable, any act,
thing or information which they become aware of, which may constitute (on its own orwith other information) a violation of this Integrity Code or a breach of the Safeguarding
Rules, including any approaches or requests to engage in conduct that may constitutea violation of this Integrity Code or the Safeguarding Rules.

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6.2

Any such information shall be reported to the Head of the Integrity Unit or to theIntegrity Unit in accordance with the Procedural Rules Applicable of the Integrity Codeand the Safeguarding Rules, as applicable.

7.

Investigations and Prosecutions

7.1

Upon receiving any report from an Applicable Person or receiving or becoming awareof any information which may constitute an alleged violation of this Integrity Code of
Conduct by any Applicable Person, the Integrity Unit shall proceed in accordance withthe applicable Procedural Rules of the Integrity Code, to decide whether or not to (i)prosecute a charge for violation of the Integrity Code of Conduct before the Disciplinary
and Appeals Tribunal, or (ii) to refer the matter to a person or body pursuant to Rule 7of the Reporting, Investigation and Prosecution Rules – Non-Doping.

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