The Albanese Government is strengthening protections for athletes and bolstering Australia's world-leading sport integrity system to ensure elite competition and major sporting events are held on a fair and level playing field.
The Sport Legislation Amendment (World Anti-Doping Code Implementation) Bill 2026 has been introduced to Parliament and will implement key reforms required under the 2027 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code.
Australia, through Sport Integrity Australia, is signatory to the globally recognised WADA Code. This legislation is designed to ensure compliance with the new Code, which comes into effect on 1 January 2027.
The bill incorporates updates to the WADA Code, aligning with the required changes by:
- reinforcing the independence of Australia's anti-doping system by transferring responsibility for imposing consequences from sports to Sport Integrity Australia
- strengthening the appeal rights of athletes in relation to Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) decisions
- protecting vulnerable participants by ensuring publication decisions balance the public interest with privacy safeguards
- modernising Australia's anti-doping laws by updating the definition of athlete to align with the Code.
This will ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of international anti-doping and sport integrity practices ahead of hosting major upcoming sporting events like the Netball, Rugby Union and Softball World Cups in 2027, and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The reforms complement the further $20.1 million investment in Sport Integrity Australia and record investment in high-performance sport at the 2026-27 Budget.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Sport, Anika Wells:
"When Australian athletes compete on the world stage, they deserve to know it's on a level playing field.
"Australia has a proud history of leadership on anti-doping in sport, helping to shape international anti-doping policy like the World Anti-Doping Code, and building one of the world's most robust national integrity systems here at home.
"It is vital that when we host major sporting events like Brisbane 2032, we ensure the integrity of those events is unquestionable.
"The changes the Albanese Government is making ensure our continued compliance with this important international code and the harmonisation of anti-doping frameworks worldwide."
