Medical

PERFORMANCE SUPPORT NETWORK

Athletics Australia has a network of medical and other performance support practitioners around the country that understand the needs of athletics athletes. The following lists are available for download:

SUPPLEMENTS

Athletics Australia believes that sports nutrition should be based on a well-balanced, healthy (nutritious) diet and recommends all athletes adopt a "food first" approach to their nutrition. Use of supplements in sport should only take place on the advice of the appropriately qualified and accredited Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) Physician/Registrar, Sports Doctor, an Accredited Sports Dietitian or another accredited and appropriately trained medical practitioner who has a scope of practice in prescription of medical supplements. Athletes are encouraged to consult one of the AA preferred practitioners listed above.

The Athletics Australia Supplements in Sports Policy provides guidelines for the appropriate use of supplements in sport and details specific restrictions around their use in both elite and non-elite athletes of all ages.

Supplement in Sport Policy

This policy is written in reference to the "The AIS Sports Supplement Framework". For more detail regarding this framework please see the link below.

AIS Sports Supplement Framework

AA SUPPLEMENT REPORTING AND DECLARATION PROCESS

NASS athletes must report ALL supplement use through their regular screenings at their relevant State Institute or Academy of Sport.

NASS athletes and athletes selected onto AA teams must also report ALL supplement use through any campaign medical screening/questionnaire processes requested for selected teams. For Athletes supported by AA through NASS or any AA selected teams, use of any Group B or C supplement must be approved in advance of commencing the supplement through:

• the NIN Dietitian or Sports Physician; AND/OR
• the AA Chief Medical Officer and the National High Performance Nutrition Lead

It is the responsibility of all NASS athletes to manage and keep their AMS supplement register and declaration current.

HIGH PERFORMANCE NUTRITION & TRAVEL INFORMATION

Athletics Australia, with the assistance of the Sport Australia, through the Australian Institute of Sport, provides the following links to information regarding:

ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA ENDORSE CONCUSSION IN SPORT AUSTRALIA

The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) has partnered with the Australian Medical Association (AMA), the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians (ACSEP), and Sports Medicine Australia (SMA) to deliver Concussion in Sport Australia. This initiative provides a suite of contemporary, evidence-based resources for the recognition and management of sports-related concussion for all Australians, regardless of sport, location or level of participation.

Supported by the Australian Government, this initiative aims to:

• improve safety and health outcomes for all people who suffer concussive injuries while participating in sport
• make effective use of funds in the financially-constrained sport and health sectors by providing  best practice protocols and guidelines for all sporting and medical organisations
• assist all sporting and medical organisations to align their policy and procedures with the most current evidence and expert opinion available
• provide consistency of approach in the recognition and management of concussion in Australia.

Athletics Australia supports Concussion in Sport Australia.

ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA DISORDERED EATING GUIDELINES 

Everyone in the Athletics community plays a role in creating a healthy sport system. Athletics Australia recognises that all athletes involved across all athletic disciplines, are at risk of disordered eating and eating disorders. Whilst we acknowledge not all athletes will experience these issues, everyone in the Athletics community and high performance sporting system, including coaches and support personnel have a responsibility in recognising athletes suspected at risk, including identifying key signs and symptoms of disordered eating and eating disorders.

We encourage you to familiarise yourself with the Disordered Eating Guidelines and associated documents and look forward to providing further education opportunities, in conjunction with initiatives from the Australian Institute of Sport.

For further questions, please contact the Athletics Australia Core Multidisciplinary Team.

• AA Chief Medical Officer: Paul Blackman
• AA National Psychology Lead: Jonah Oliver
• AA National Nutrition Lead: Jessica Rothwell (Rebecca Haslam - Maternity Leave Cover)

1. AIS Disordered Eating website
2. AA Disordered Eating Guidelines
3. AA Community Referral and Triage Network
4. AA RED-S Factsheet
5. SDA Factsheet – Creating a Positive Performance Culture

AA BODY COMPOSITION ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES 

Athletics Australia recognises the underpinning philosophy of body composition assessment is ‘first do no harm’, including the use of appropriate and professional language, as well as professional assessment and interpretation from appropriately qualified practitioners. Assessments of body composition provides a useful tool to determine the impact of nutrition strategies and training interventions. However, in particular athletes, such activities have the potential to cause harm. These guidelines seek to safeguard any athlete and apply to each individual athlete, their coach(s) and their local support network.

Body Composition Assessment Guidelines