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FAQ 

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What is the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC)?

The Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) is responsible to administer the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) as part of the Abuse-Free Sport program. The OSIC operates as an independent division of the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC).

You can find more information related to the OSIC here.

What is the UCCMS?

UCCMS stands for the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS).

You can find information related to the UCCMS here.

Why were Abuse-Free Sport and the OSIC created?

The sport community has identified a critical need to establish a centralized and independent safe sport mechanism to address matters under the UCCMS. The Abuse-Free Sport program aims to create greater consistency across sports around policies, investigations, adjudications and sanctions via centralized, bilingual, and cost-effective approach. Under the Abuse-Free Sport program, the OSIC contributes to the advancement of a respectful sport culture by administering and upholding the principles of the UCCMS.

You can find more information related to the OSIC mandate here.

Who can use the resources and services offered by the OSIC?

The OSIC offers a variety of services, resources and tools freely available via the Abuse-Free Sport website and OSIC website. You can find more information here.

The Abuse-Free Sport Helpline is a free bilingual service that provides confidential and anonymous listening services for victims or witnesses of maltreatment in sport. Helpline operators can also refer users to other resources. You can access the helpline here.

Please note that the OSIC only has the authority to address certain matters. You can find more information about the authority of the OSIC here. If you are unsure of whether your Complaint or Report is under the authority of the OSIC, you may consult with the Abuse-Free Sport Helpline.

Can I file a Complaint or Report to the OSIC?

Please note that the OSIC only has the authority to address certain matters. You can find more information about the authority of the OSIC here. If you are unsure of whether your Complaint or Report is under the authority of the OSIC, you may consult with the Abuse-Free Sport Helpline here.

After your Complaint/Report form is received, the OSIC will review it to determine whether it has the authority to address the matter you've described.

How do I file a Complaint or Report to the OSIC?

You can file a Complaint or Report to the OSIC by submitting a secure, interactive online intake form HERE. If you are unable to access the Complaint/Report form, please contact us or the Abuse-Free Sport Helpline.

What is the difference between a Complaint and a Report?

The OSIC accepts information in two primary formats, Complaints and Reports. Although all information submitted to the OSIC is reviewed, only Complaints are guaranteed to proceed to the formal complaint management process, including a preliminary assessment. Both Complaints and Reports can be filed with the OSIC by submitting a secure, interactive online intake form.

By submitting a Complaint, you agree to act as the complainant throughout the complaint management process pursuant to the OSIC's policies and procedures. Anonymity is not available when submitting a Complaint.

Reports allow individuals to provide information to the OSIC, but do not automatically engage the formal complaint management process and there is no guarantee of further action. A Report can be made with or without providing your name and contact information.

You can find more information about the OSIC Complaint Management Process here.

What authority does the OSIC have?

Per the contractual mandate received from Government of Canada, the OSIC has the authority to administer the UCCMS and to receive complaints/reports regarding alleged violations of the UCCMS by participants under the authority of Abuse-Free Sport Program Signatories. As a result of the Abuse-Free Sport complaint management process, directly enforceable sanctions could be imposed by the Director of Sanctions and Outcomes (DSO).

You can find more information about the authority of the OSIC here.

Will the OSIC accept historical cases?

Complaints/Report that relate to matters that occurred prior to the adoption of the UCCMS are called “Historical Cases”. Historical Cases will be initially reviewed by the OSIC when received and, subject to the OSIC's Policies and Procedures, will be assessed through a number of factors to determine if OSIC has authority and what the applicable next steps may be.

You can find more information about Historical Cases here.

You can find more information about the OSIC Policies and Procedures here.

Which organizations are Program Signatories?

Program Signatories are national sport organizations, multi-sport organizations and/or other sport organizations that have adopted the UCCMS and have retained the services of the OSIC and Abuse-Free Sport for the implementation of their safe sport framework.

More information and a list of Program Signatories updated regularly is available here.

How does the OSIC administer complaints it receives?

The OSIC receives Complaints/Reports via its secure, interactive online intake form. Once received, the OSIC is responsible for Complaint intake, preliminary assessment and commissioning independent investigations when warranted. 

In such case, an investigation report will be generated and transferred to the Director of Sanctions and Outcomes, who will make a decision, which could include imposing a Sanction.

All Complaints/Reports filed with the OSIC will be addressed in accordance with OSIC Policies and Procedures.

You can find more information about the complaint management process here.

You can find more information about the OSIC policies and procedures here.

What is the new mandatory mediation policy?

The purpose of the Abuse-Free Sport Mandatory Mediation Policy  is to establish parameters for the OSIC to identify cases for which mediation appears suitable and to require parties to attempt mediation in those cases.

The OSIC will conduct a thorough, individualized analysis to determine whether the Mandatory Mediation Process is appropriate, based on the following non-exhaustive criteria: the nature of the alleged violation of the UCCMS; the safety and well-being of the parties, participants and the sport community at large; the best interest of the sport and those who participate in it, including the views of the person(s) directly affected; that there is no significant power imbalance between the parties; and whether a resolution is likely to be achieved through mediation.

Cases for which mediation is not deemed suitable will not be subject to the Mandatory Mediation Process and will proceed through other avenues within the Complaint Management Process, unless all parties voluntarily request to engage in mediation.

How does the OSIC address systemic issues in sport?

The OSIC has the authority to initiate Sport Environment Assessment of applicable sport organizations. A Sport Environment Assessment addresses systemic UCCMS-related issues to improve the sport environment for both current and future participants. The OSIC may communicate actionable recommendations emerging from Sport Environment Assessments, but it does not have authority to enforce recommendations.

You can find available information about Sport Environment Assessments here.

How does the OSIC handle confidentiality? 

The confidentiality parameters of the OSIC Complaint Management Process and information received in the context of this process are established in the OSIC Confidentiality Policy. These parameters balance protecting the identity of those involved (in particular victims/survivors and impacted/vulnerable persons) with the need to ensure procedural fairness. It is important to note that these confidentiality rules apply to information that a person receives through their participation in the process and do not extend to pre-existing knowledge, such as personal or lived experiences.

For more information as well as the OSIC's position regarding non-disclosure agreements, click here.

Do I have to pay to use the services of the OSIC?

The following services are accessible at no cost to individual users (certain conditions and eligibility restrictions may apply):

 

Where can I get help?

The OSIC offers certain support services to eligible individuals, such as a Mental Health Support Program and a Legal Aid Program.

If you need any immediate assistance, please contact the Abuse-Free Sport Helpline.

For any general inquiry, you can contact us here.

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