IFAF is committed to strengthening the integrity of the sport and protecting clean athletes.
This work encompasses the fight against doping (Anti-Doping), match manipulation, and any other forms of cheating in sport alongside the strengthening of ethics with improvements in transparency, good governance and accountability.
To further this commitment, IFAF has created a Health Medical and Integrity Unit (the “Integrity Unit” ).
The Integrity Unit is an independent body constituted to ensure the sport of American football is administered with integrity in a democratic, professional, ethical and transparent way and that people participate in competitions that are fair and free from any form of unethical behaviour and that its athletes and all support personnel are competing in a healthy, medically and ethically safe and clean environment.
The Integrity Unit operates at arms-length from the IFAF and carries out investigatory and judicial functions pursuant to the IFAF Integrity Rules and the IFAF Disciplinary and Dispute Resolution Rules.
The “IFAF Integrity Rules” include but are not limited to:
The Integrity Code
The Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions Regulations
The Safeguarding Regulations
The Conflict of Interest Regulations
The In Competition Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Rules
IFAF, its Member Federations and all acting under the auspices of both are responsible for safeguarding the integrity and reputation of the sport of American Football.
Together, through their values, rules, education programmes and practices, they strive to protect the sport from illegal, immoral or unethical methods, activities and practices that may harm the participant community or bring the sport into disrepute.
The aim of the IFAF Integrity Code (which replaces the prior Code of Ethics) is to ensure the sport of American Football is administered with integrity in a democratic, professional, ethical and transparent way and that people participate in competitions that are fair and free from any form of unethical behaviour.
All relevant IFAF documentation can be found in the IFAF Library under the Health and Integrity section.
“Covered Persons” as defined and used in the Integrity Code and all IFAF Integrity Rules include but are not limited to:
All participants in IFAF activities including but not limited to players, coaches, trainers, therapists, physicians, Technical Officials, other officials, Board of Directors and Executive Members, or other IFAF Officers.
All Member Federations and their members who compete at the international level.
All persons who take part in the sport of American football in any capacity directly or indirectly at a IFAF sanctioned or IFAF approved event.
All IFAF employees or IFAF-appointed consultants or agents.
All individuals who compete, coach, officiate, work at, or otherwise participate in a supporting role, including parents and legal guardians of a player in an event or training camp or activity organised, sanctioned or approved by IFAF.
All individuals who hold an IFAF or IFAF-recognised officiating or coaching certification or Technical Official certification.
All individuals who receive accreditation at any IFAF tournaments, events and activities or act as an IFAF contractor or volunteer in relation to such tournaments, events and activities.
All individuals who serve as members of any IFAF committee or national or international committee related to IFAF.
All persons who have, whether by enjoying any form of licence, accreditation or any other status from IFAF, or otherwise consented (expressly or impliedly) to be bound by this Code.
