Section 3: NSO, Athlete and Sport Canada Responsibilities

When National Sport Organizations (NSOs) nominate athletes and when athletes apply for Athlete Assistance Program (AAP) support, they agree to carry out certain responsibilities. Similarly, when Sport Canada approves nominations for AAP support, it agrees to undertake specific responsibilities. This section provides a detailed description of these responsibilities.

3.1 NSO Responsibilities

NSOs are responsible for nominating eligible athletes for AAP support. In making these nominations, which occur annually, the NSO agrees to the following responsibilities:

  • Develop and submit carding criteria for Sport Canada’s review for compliance with AAP policies and procedures.
  • Communicate the NSO carding criteria that will be used in nominating athletes for AAP support to NSO members in a timely manner.
  • Nominate athletes for AAP support based on the NSO’s published carding criteria.
  • Communicate with athletes both orally and in writing in the official language of their choice (English or French).
  • Produce and give the athlete a copy of the NSO’s National Team Handbook or comparable document in the official language of the athlete’s choice. The document provided must cover at least the following:
    • NSO carding criteria to be used for nominating athletes for the AAP;
    • procedures to be used when developing carding nominations;
    • criteria and procedures for selection to National Team competitive opportunities and training camps;
    • discipline and appeals procedures; and
    • credit to the Government of Canada for the funding provided to athletes and NSOs through Sport Canada.
  • Submit all nominations for carding at least three weeks before the beginning of the NSO’s carding cycle. The NSO provides these nominations to Sport Canada through the appropriate Sport Canada Program Officer and the AAP Manager (see Section 6.1).
  • Provide athletes with forms required for the AAP, including tuition vouchers and application forms.
  • Develop and provide to all carded athletes an Athlete/NSO Agreement that complies with AAP policies.
  • Review and recommend requests for special-needs assistance and deferred tuition. Recommendations should be forwarded to the Sport Canada AAP Manager.
  • Ensure that each carded athlete adheres to an NSO-approved competition and training plan throughout the carding cycle. At a minimum, this requires monthly contact with each athlete.
  • Advise the AAP Manager immediately if a carded athlete fails to honour his or her AAP commitments.
  • Inform the Sport Canada AAP Manager in a timely manner of an athlete’s retirement or withdrawal from the AAP.
  • Inform the Sport Canada AAP Manager in a timely manner of all assertions of anti‑doping rule violations resulting from international testing.

Note: If the NSO fails to notify Sport Canada in a timely manner of an athlete’s retirement, withdrawal from the AAP, or an assertion of an anti-doping rule violation and the athlete subsequently receives AAP benefits for which he or she is not eligible, it is the responsibility of the NSO to facilitate return of that overpayment to Sport Canada. The NSO is also responsible for facilitating the return of any funding that was provided to an athlete as the result of a false application or fraudulent misrepresentation on the part of the athlete or the NSO.

  • Develop discipline and appeal procedures based on due process that include access to independent arbitration through the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC).
  • Provide Sport Canada with written confirmation that all carded athletes have signed their Athlete/NSO Agreement. This must occur within two (2) months of the start of the NSO’s carding cycle. The Agreement is not considered signed if any sections have been deleted or altered in any way. Athletes for whom Sport Canada has not received confirmation of signing from the NSO may have their AAP payments suspended until the NSO confirms in writing that the Agreement has been signed. The decision to suspend AAP payments of athletes who have not signed their Agreement will be made in consultation with the NSO, and the NSO will inform Sport Canada of the reasons why the Agreement has not been signed.
  • Actively participate in all AAP program evaluation activities. NSOs will cooperate fully in any evaluation that may be conducted by the Minister or anyone authorized to act on the Minister’s behalf. The NSO will also provide such data as the person conducting the evaluation considers necessary for the proper conduct of the evaluation.

Note: It is strongly recommended that all NSOs ensure all carded athletes have inside‑Canada and outside-Canada medical and dental insurance.

3.2 Athlete Responsibilities

Athletes applying for AAP support commit to the following responsibilities:

  • Adhere to the competitive and training program and administrative requirements specified by their NSO throughout the cycle for which they are carded.
  • Refund any assistance provided if their carding status changes or is withdrawn. This refund will be effective on the date their carding status changes or is withdrawn. Such refunds are payable to Canada’s Receiver General.
  • Respect and abide by the Government of Canada’s Canadian Policy Against Doping in Sport, the Canadian Anti-Doping Program of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport and any related anti-doping policy of the NSO.
  • Respect and abide by any other policy of the Government of Canada that may be developed from time to time related to sporting contacts with other countries.
  • Participate in sport-related promotional activities on behalf of the Government of Canada. Sport Canada usually makes the request for participation, and the athlete’s NSO generally makes the detailed arrangements. Unless supplementary compensation is arranged, these activities do not normally involve more than two working days per athlete per year.
  • Communicate regularly with their NSO using the reporting mechanism specified in the NSO’s athlete-monitoring plan. Communication may occur directly or through the athlete’s personal coach.
  • Notify the NSO of any injury that may prevent them from participating in the National Team program.
  • Immediately notify Sport Canada, through their NSO, of any change of address. This is required to ensure timely receipt of AAP cheques and program information.
  • Initiate any nomination appeals directly with their NSO.
  • Comply with AAP policies and procedures, including those dealing with Sport Canada AAP Decisions as described in Section 13 of this document.
  • Actively participate in all program evaluation activities. Athletes will cooperate fully in any evaluation that may be conducted by the Minister or anyone authorized to act on the Minister’s behalf. Athletes will also provide such data as the person conducting the evaluation considers necessary for the proper conduct of the evaluation.
  • Provide true statements in their application and supporting documentation and validate these statements if requested to do so by Sport Canada.
  • Indicate whether they are current or former federal government employees. If so, athletes must confirm that they are in compliance with the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service or the Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders.

3.3 Sport Canada Responsibilities

In approving nominations for AAP support, Sport Canada agrees to do the following:

  • Communicate with NSOs and athletes both orally and in writing in the official language of their choice (English or French).
  • Determine the card quotas for NSOs.
  • Review all nominations of eligible athletes for AAP support made by the NSO.
  • Approve nominations in accordance with AAP policies and the published NSO carding criteria.
  • Arrange payments in accordance with AAP policies and procedures.
  • Provide information to NSOs and athletes regarding the development of carding criteria, athlete agreements, appeals procedures, due process, athlete monitoring, and other areas concerning athlete assistance and related services.
  • Provide NSOs with AAP materials (application forms, tuition vouchers, etc.).
  • Provide a review procedure to both athletes and NSOs on any Sport Canada AAP operational decision in accordance with Section 13 of this document.

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