Best practice in safeguarding – World Athletics lead the field with updates to their pioneering safeguarding policy

This article examines World Athletics' updated Safeguarding Policy, highlighting how, in the authors’ opinion, it exemplifies best practice principles of implementation and continuous improvement in sports safeguarding. It analyses key changes from their 2021 policy, which include new requirements for member organizations to create their own safety policies, clearer rules about reporting concerns, and better training resources. These changes show how World Athletics is taking practical steps to turn their safety policies from paper documents into real-world actions that protect people across the sport.

Introduction

Earlier this year, LimeCulture, with the support of Farrer & Co, launched the new Best Practice Guide on developing safeguarding in sport policy, guidance and procedures. The guide was commissioned by British Gymnastics and Sport England to “support sporting organisations to develop their approaches to the drafting of policy, guidance and procedures that meet the needs of the sporting community and are underpinned by core principles to ensure participants of all ages, abilities and backgrounds are kept safe in sport.”

The guidance, which was driven by the learnings and developments in British Gymnastics following the Whyte Review, explores the interaction between meaningful policies and safer cultures, setting out a principled framework for effective safeguarding policies, and offering guidance on its practical implementation.

The guidance focuses on eight development principles:

1. Collectively owned - Active and committed involvement of key stakeholders from all levels of the sporting organisation, including those at the highest levels of the sporting organisation in the process of developing their safeguarding in sport policy, guidance and procedures.
2. Values driven - This principle ensures that the safeguarding in sport policy, guidance and procedures development and implementation are guided by the organisation’s fundamental principles, prioritising the safety and well-being of all participants.
3. Person-centred - Individuals (children and adults) are placed at the heart of the development and implementation of safeguarding in sport policy, guidance and procedures.
4. Evidence-based and risk informed - The development of the safeguarding in sport policy, guidance and procedures should be determined by data-driven insights on safeguarding risks, research, and informed assessments of potential dangers and vulnerabilities within the particular sports environment in a proportionate manner.
5. Co-produced - This principle places value on creating safeguarding in sport policy, guidance, and procedures that are co-owned by all stakeholders, ensuring their needs, concerns, and ideas are integrated into the final development.
6. Accessible and clear - Making safeguarding in sport policy, guidance, and procedures accessible and clear ensures that they are understandable to all ages, all abilities and diverse backgrounds.
7. Implementation focused - This principle is essential because it bridges the gap between the design of safeguarding in sport policies, guidance, and procedures and actual practice, ensuring that what is written in the safeguarding in sport policies, guidance, and procedures actually takes place on the ground in the sport.
8. Continuously improved - A continuous improvement approach ensures that the safeguarding in sport policy, guidance, and procedures remains relevant, effective, and responsive to the evolving needs of participants.

These principles serve as the foundational framework essential for the development of safeguarding in sport policy, guidance, and procedures. These principles collectively create a holistic approach to ensuring the effectiveness of each document in promoting safeguarding in sport.

In our previous LawInSport article, the authors discussed the significant and hugely positive milestone where World Athletics released their Safeguarding Policy (“First Policy”). At that point, a number of the eight principles were evident.

Now, with almost three years under their belts, World Athletics has reviewed and made significant updates to the First Policy, reflecting the progress they have made since 2021. The authors think that the updated Safeguarding Policy (“New Policy”) is a strong example of best practice principles 7 and 8 being implemented and the authors hope hope that other sporting organisations will find this helpful when reviewing their own policies.

New Rules

The First Policy was originally read in conjunction with the World Athletics’ Integrity Code of Conduct (“Code of Conduct”). However, in 2023, World Athletics separated the safeguarding provisions from the Code of Conduct and introduced the standalone World Athletics Safeguarding Rules (“Rules”).

The Rules now give World Athletics the power to make orders by imposing safeguards, limitations and/or restrictions on individuals. An independent Case Management Group has now also been appointed to make decisions in relation to safeguarding concerns. Should World Athletics’ Integrity Unit raise any concerns or commence any investigations, the Case Management Group has the power to review the investigations, assess the risk and make orders relating to matters of safeguarding.

A New Onus on Member Federations and Area Associations

The First Policy set expectations and outlined safeguarding principles for members, covering all potential harm areas for both athletes and those involved in athletics. The New Policy builds on this by requiring Member Federations and Area Associations to urgently adopt and implement their own safeguarding policies.

The First Policy did not seek to impose specific obligations or processes on areas with entirely different laws, because the law of each area varies immensely in terms of their safeguarding practices, as does law enforcement. The New Policy, however, mandates that all Member Federations meet the December 2023 deadline to adopt and implement safeguarding policies that align with local legislation. Each Member Federation must detail the specific steps for reporting concerns, investigations, and disciplinary processes in their policies. World Athletics also emphasises the priority of publishing safeguarding policies. The World Athletics Council may impose sanctions or reconsider funding for Member Federations that fail to comply by the deadline.

Area Associations (entities that are delegated authority by World Athletics to make decisions in their respective areas) have a little bit longer (until December 2024) to adopt their own safeguarding policies. They must handle concerns within their jurisdiction or refer them to the relevant Member Federation. Area Associations must also inform public authorities, as required by local laws, and collaborate with local agencies to address concerns.

This new onus is a good example of World Athletics ensuring that what Member Federations and Area Associations write in their policies actually takes place on the ground. Principle 7 is often overlooked and therefore, whilst many safeguarding in sport policies, guidance, and procedures are good in theory, they do not translate to practice. By concentrating on implementation, World Athletics are ensuring that members’ policies have a greater chance of success when being implemented.

Upskilling Members

A key element to implementation and continuous improvement is training and development. To support members in implementing safeguarding policies, new initiatives like the online Safeguarding Essentials course by World Athletics are available in seven languages, with more in development. This course was promoted at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, and participants received course details in their welcome packs.

World Athletics has also recently published its Guidance on Reporting Safeguarding Matters, helping Member Federations and Area Associations identify what must be reported to World Athletics. The guidance outlines three circumstances requiring prompt disclosure:

1. Matters of World Athletics jurisdiction as outlined in the World Athletics Safeguarding Policy;
2. Risk of harm from an individual arising in one Member Federation but who is based in another jurisdiction
3. Serious matters involving International-Level Individuals

The guidance provides a framework for Member Federations and Area Associations to develop their reporting systems and procedures and we look forward to seeing this implemented in the coming months.

Additional Updates

Further key updates include:

• As part of its implementation strategy the New Policy now protects an athlete’s competitive results from manipulation, in addition to their age or nationality.

• Detailed steps regarding reporting procedures. The New Policy stresses that if there is an immediate risk of harm there should be no delay in reporting to emergency services, taking into account age, mental capacity and consent of that person. This is important because reporting is an area which varies widely across different countries. If a concern involves law enforcement because the incident may be a criminal offence, then law enforcement must be made aware as a matter of priority. If there is a concern about someone requiring medical support, then this should be sought in the first instance.

• World Athletics or the Athletics Integrity Unit may request information from Member Federations or Area Associations to determine if action is needed under the Safeguarding Rules.

Conclusion

The updates to World Athletics’ Safeguarding Policy reflect significant progress since the initial release of the First Policy. The introduction of the standalone World Athletics Safeguarding Rules and the establishment of an independent Case Management Group demonstrate a strong commitment to safeguarding. The new requirements for Member Federations and Area Associations to adopt and implement their own policies by set deadlines highlight the urgency and importance of these measures.

The emphasis on upskilling members through initiatives like the Safeguarding Essentials course and the new Guidance on Reporting Safeguarding Matters provides essential support for effective implementation. The additional updates further strengthen the safeguarding framework.

As World Athletics continues to lead by example, their ongoing commitment to safeguarding will undoubtedly contribute to the sport’s integrity and the well-being of its participants. We therefore look forward to seeing how World Athletics governs its members moving forwards and ensures the highest standards of safeguarding in this next phase.

Please note this content was originally published in LawInSport, see here.

This publication is a general summary of the law. It should not replace legal advice tailored to your specific circumstances.

© Farrer & Co LLP, March 2025