Athlete Code of conduct & Dispute process

As a competitor in Australia’s Strongest competitions, you represent not only yourself but also the sport of Strongman. Athletes are expected to uphold the highest standards of sportsmanship, respect, and professionalism throughout the competition.

General Expectations:

  • Compete with integrity, fairness, and honesty.

  • Display good sportsmanship at all times, whether in victory or defeat.

  • Treat all fellow competitors, event staff, and spectators with respect.

  • Follow all competition rules, regulations, and event guidelines.

  • Accept the judges’ decisions with grace and professionalism.

  • Address any disputes or concerns in the appropriate manner, as outlined in the dispute process below.

  • Take personal responsibility for warming up, preparing, and being ready for each event when called.

  • Refrain from using foul language, derogatory remarks, or unsportsmanlike behaviour.

Respect for Competition & Equipment:

• Athletes must respect all event equipment and venue property. Any intentional damage to equipment will result in penalties or disqualification.

• Proper use of tacky, lifting gear, and other equipment must follow event rules.
• Athletes must follow the event flow and timing schedule to ensure a smooth competition.

Health & Safety Responsibilities:

  • Prioritise personal safety and the safety of others.

  • Follow instructions from event officials and spotters at all times.

  • If injured or unable to continue competing, notify the event organiser as soon as possible.

    Substance Use & Conduct:

  • Athletes must not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol during competition.

  • Any conduct that brings the competition or the sport into disrepute will result in disciplinary action.

Dispute & Penalty Process Penalties:

It is at the judge’s discretion to penalise any athlete who does not adhere to the competition rules or creates an unsafe environment for themselves or others. Penalties may include:

• A warning
• A time or distance penalty
• A repeated rep
• A “no rep” decision
• Disqualification from an event or the competition

Warnings and penalties may be issued at the time of the infringement or at the conclusion of an athlete’s event.

Resolving Disputes:

• Athletes may only challenge a scoring or administrative issue – NOT a subjective judge’s call (e.g., down calls).

• If an athlete wishes to dispute a scoring or administrative issue, they must approach the head organiser directly – NOT a judge or scorer.

• Any disputes must be raised immediately after the event has concluded or at the earliest opportunity on competition day.

• The final cutoff for any disputes is before the competition award ceremony. After this point, disputes will not be considered.

• Disputes must be raised in a respectful manner. Approaching officials aggressively or disrespectfully may result in penalties.

Dispute Examples: Appropriate disputes:

• “I believe I pressed the log for 10 reps, but my score was recorded as 8.” • “I believe my yoke run was recorded as slower than my actual time.”

For these disputes to be considered, the athlete must provide clear video evidence showing an error in scoring. If verified, the score may be amended.

Invalid disputes:

• “I received a ‘no rep’ but believe I should have got it.” • “I don’t agree with the judge’s call on my lift.”

Judges’ decisions on down calls are final and will not be overturned.

Use of Footage for Review:

• Third-party or livestream footage will only be used if it is clear, readily available, and does not disrupt the event flow.

• The organiser will review disputes as quickly as possible, and their ruling is final. • If a scoring adjustment is made, it will be communicated to all impacted athletes

Expectations for Crew & Event Staff

While this document is specifically for athletes, it is important to note that the expectation of professionalism, respect, and sportsmanship extends to all event staff, crew, and officials.

Event crew and staff are responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of the competition and are expected to:

• Communicate with athletes professionally and respectfully.
• Remain impartial and fair in all interactions.
• Provide clear and consistent instructions.

• Uphold the integrity of the event and enforce rules fairly.
• Address athlete concerns appropriately, referring disputes to the proper channels.

Athletes can expect the same level of respect and professionalism from the crew as they are expected to demonstrate themselves.
This ensures that all participants—athletes, staff, and spectators—contribute to a positive and fair competition environment.

Final Note:

By entering Australia’s Strongest competitions, you agree to abide by these expectations. The competition environment should be fair, professional, and respectful for all athletes, officials, and spectators. Any breaches of this Code of Conduct may result in penalties, disqualification, or removal from the event.

We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to incredible competition!