Integrity

The Football Association of Wales shares FIFA’s objective in protecting the integrity of football, specifically in preventing all methods or practices, such as corruption, doping or match manipulation, which might jeopardise the integrity of matches, Competitions, Players, Officials or give rise to abuse of Association Football.

The FAW aim to implement an effective approach towards preventing and challenging all forms of manipulation and unlawful influencing of football matches, competitions, or individual performance.

The objective of the FAW’s Integrity Strategy is based on the promotion of integrity and the protection of football matches and competitions, with an approach around 3 Core Pillars: 

Prevent: Detect: Respond.

These pillars are comprised of promoting integrity at all times through proactively educating and raising awareness throughout the football family to protect the values of fair play in football.

We will protect football matches and competitions against match manipulation and doping through detection programs and responding swiftly investigating any alleged breaches and imposing sanctions where sufficient evidence is found proven.

We believe that football should be an equal game where everyone has the same opportunity to be the best they can be and should always attain this cleanly and fairly.

Success should always be strived for and achieved on hard work and merit and not through manipulation or cheating.

Betting & Match-Fixing

FAW Rules

The following Rules apply to all Match Officials, and everyone connected to a Club or League in Wales.

  • You are not allowed to place any bets or accept any bets, on any game within Wales.
  • If your Club participates in a competition outside Wales, such as the UEFA Champions League, for example, you are not allowed to place any bets, or accept any bets, on your own team. Neither must you bet, nor accept any bet, on any other match in that competition even if your club is eliminated.
  • You must not offer, or attempt to offer, any bribe or reward to anybody in order to influence the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of any match. You must also not accept any such bribe or reward.
  • Whilst participating in a match, you must not fail to perform your duties or responsibilities to the best of your ability for any kind of reward.
  • It will be an offence for you to fail to report to the FAW any approach from a person, organisation or third party if asked to influence the course and/or result of a match or competition in an unlawful or undue manner.
  • It will also be an offence for you to fail to report any information or behaviour involving any person, organisation or third party should you be aware of any activities aimed at influencing the course of a match or competition in an unlawful or undue manner.
  • You must never use or provide others with any information that is obtained through connections with people involved in the game, which damages or could damage, the integrity of a match or competition.

Consequences

If a participant breaches the FAW Betting, Integrity & Match Fixing Rules, this can lead to a suspension, a heavy fine, a worldwide lifetime ban from football or even criminal charges being brought against them.

Reporting

You can report any information or concerns by clicking here or by calling 02920 435 859.

Anti-Doping

To achieve our objective of a clean and equal game the FAW works closely with UK Anti-Doping who is the national body responsible for creating a UK-wide environment of confidence in clean sport and adopts the UK Anti-Doping Rules.

The FAW Anti-doping Rules which apply to all Participants and other Persons under the jurisdiction of FAW can be viewed HERE.

The Code

The World Anti-Doping Code forms a framework for anti-doping policies, rules, and regulations for UK sport organisations and public authorities.

You can view the code HERE.

Anti-Doping Rule Violations

Just as each sport has rules to determine how it is played or performed, there are Anti-Doping Rules in place to protect clean sport.

Doping is defined in the World Anti-Doping Code as the occurrence of one or more of the Anti-Doping Rule Violations.

To find out about the ADRV click HERE.

Prohibited List

The Prohibited List sets out the substances and methods prohibited in sport.

Some substances and methods are prohibited at all times and others are only prohibited in competition or only prohibited in particular sports. 

It does not matter when you take a substance, if it is prohibited in competition and it is found in your system you may face a ban. A core principle of the Code is that of strict liability, which states that athletes are solely responsible for any prohibited substances they use, attempt to use or is found in their system regardless of how it got there and if there was an intention to cheat.

To view the Prohibited list Click HERE

Check Your Medications 

Download the 100% me Clean Sport App (Apple, Android) and use the medication record function to note all medications you use. You will need to record this information on the Doping Control Form if you are tested.

Make sure you check all medications on Global DRO which provides Players and support personnel with information about the anti-doping status of specific medications and ingredients based on the current WADA Prohibited List. 

Visit Global DRO HERE.

Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)

If an athlete has an illness or condition that requires them to take medication, which contains ingredients listed on the Prohibited List, then there are steps they need to take to obtain a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). 

You can use UKAD TUE Wizard to determine whether you are required to apply for a TUE HERE.

Assess the Risk of Supplements

All athletes are advised to be vigilant in using any supplement. No guarantee can be given that any particular supplement is free from prohibited substances. Before taking supplements, athletes must therefore assess the need, risk and consequences to their careers

Informed Sport provides information on supplements and ways of reducing the risks. To find out more click HERE.

Testing Process

Players can be tested any time, any place.

Testing can take place in competition at matches, or out-of-competition, in training venues, or even at a Players home. 

Testing is intelligence-led and risk-based, however, it will always be conducted with ‘no advanced notice.

To find out more about the testing process click HERE.

Education

The Clean Sport Hub is UKAD’s new platform for clean sport education!

UK Anti-Doping’s education and information programmes can support you in your career to ensure you and your Players engage in football in line with the values of clean sport, and the Anti-Doping Rules. 

The hub will allow easier access and tailored courses for Players, Coaches, parents, support staff and anyone who is interested in protecting clean sport.

Access the Hub HERE.

To view the FAW’s Anti-Doping Education Strategy click HERE.

Consequences of Doping

If you’re found doping and face a ban from sport that is only the beginning. The consequences of doping to your health, psychological and mental wellbeing – as well as the social and financial consequences – are far-reaching and damaging.

Find out more about the consequences of doping HERE.

Report

Clean sport depends on everyone having the know-how to speak out when something’s wrong. To report any concerns or ADRV’s click HERE

You can also contact the FAW Integrity Manager by clicking here or by calling 02920 435 859.

FAW Anti-doping Annual Report 

Find out more about our recent anti doing activities HERE.

Further Support

If you are a Player, Click HERE
If you are a Coach, click HERE
If you are a Club Official, click HERE
If you are a parent, click HERE

FAW Integrity Strategy

To find out more about the FAW’s Integrity Programmes you can read the FAW’s Integrity Strategy HERE.

Contact & Further Information

FA Wales Integrity Manager
integrity@faw.co.uk
02920 435 859

FIFA
For Integrity Programme click HERE.
For Anti-Doping Click HERE.

UEFA
For Integrity Programme click HERE.
For Anti-doping information click HERE.

UK Anti-Doping
www.ukad.org.uk
ukad@ukad.org.uk 
020 7766 7350

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
www.wada-ama.org/en
+1 514 904 9232

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