Head of Sport Integrity Australia resigns

The Australian sporting watchdog is chasing a new boss after the man who led several key investigations across major sports stepped down.

The head of Australia’s sporting watchdog, David Sharpe, is stepping down after four years in charge of Sport Integrity Australia.

Sharpe moved into the role in June 2020 when SIA replaced the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) and assumed total investigation powers over sporting integrity matters across all the major codes, including the AFL and NRL.

He has been central to a raft of sporting investigations and SIA has transitioned under his watch to handling hundreds of complaints each year. Peak bodies for gymnastics, swimming, football, equestrian and hockey have undergone significant reforms after being independently investigated.

Sharpe said sport had come a long way in Australia since the inception of SIA, highlighting the establishment of a national integrity framework for all sport

“I have always said that in order to protect sport, we had to work together and the national integrity framework is proof of that,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

Sport Integrity Australia @CEODavidSharpe has today announced his intention to step down from the role.
Full statement: https://t.co/ILxzB559Ye#ProtectingSportTogether#CEOpic.twitter.com/CLt21KaaFA

— Sport Integrity Australia (@ProtectingSport) June 11, 2024

A replacement is not yet confirmed for Sharpe, who will finish in the role on August 2 this year, in the middle of the Paris Olympics, with an interim chief executive to be appointed.

A federal government agency, SIA was given greater powers under legislative changes when created, enabling the pursuit of what Sharpe has described as “facilitators” of corruption – from those supplying prohibited substances to organised crime.