Health & Safe Participation Policy
Purpose
The health and safety of Team Canada athletes is a shared responsibility. While each athlete is ultimately responsible for their own health and decisions regarding training and competition, Team Canada also has a duty to provide a safe environment for athletes, officials, volunteers, and spectators.
This policy exists to encourage open communication, promote athlete safety, and ensure that participation decisions are made fairly, consistently, and with the best interests of everyone involved.
Athlete Responsibility
Athletes are expected to take reasonable responsibility for their own health and wellbeing throughout training, qualification, travel, and competition.
As members of Team Canada, athletes must promptly disclose any significant medical condition, injury, diagnosis, or change in health status that could reasonably affect their ability to safely participate in kettlebell sport.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
Cardiovascular conditions.
Neurological conditions.
Recent hospitalization or surgery.
Significant illness or infection.
Major medication changes that may affect physical or cognitive performance.
Episodes of dizziness, fainting, loss of consciousness, seizures, chest pain, or unexplained shortness of breath.
Any condition where a physician has recommended restricting physical activity.
This list is not exhaustive. When in doubt, athletes are encouraged to disclose the concern and discuss it with Team Canada.
Disclosure is not intended to exclude athletes from participation. Rather, it allows Team Canada to work collaboratively with the athlete to determine the safest and most appropriate pathway forward.
Ongoing Duty to Disclose
An athlete's responsibility to disclose health concerns is ongoing throughout the Team Canada qualification and competition cycle.
If an athlete experiences a significant change in their health after qualifying, after submitting an application, during training, while travelling, or before competition, they are expected to notify Team Canada as soon as reasonably possible.
Changes in health status may require a reassessment of participation to ensure the athlete can continue to train and compete safely.
Open and timely communication allows Team Canada to provide appropriate support while fulfilling its responsibility to athlete safety.
Medical Clearance
If Team Canada becomes aware of a medical condition that may reasonably affect an athlete's ability to safely train, qualify, travel, or compete, Team Canada reserves the right to require medical clearance before participation continues.
Medical clearance may be requested at any stage of the qualification process or while representing Team Canada.
Clearance must be completed by the athlete's treating physician or appropriate medical specialist and should specifically confirm that the athlete has been medically assessed and is fit to participate in competitive kettlebell sport.
Team Canada may postpone or suspend an athlete's participation until satisfactory medical clearance has been received.
Failure to Disclose
Knowingly withholding or failing to disclose a significant medical condition that could reasonably affect safe participation is considered a serious breach of Team Canada policy.
Where an athlete knowingly withholds information that may place themselves or others at increased risk, Team Canada reserves the right to:
Suspend the athlete's participation immediately pending review.
Require comprehensive medical clearance before returning to Team Canada activities.
Review the athlete's eligibility to qualify for or represent Team Canada.
Take additional action under the Team Canada Code of Conduct where appropriate.
Confidentiality
Medical information disclosed to Team Canada will be treated respectfully and confidentially and will only be shared with those who require the information to make participation decisions or fulfil organizational responsibilities.
Commitment to Athlete Safety
Team Canada recognizes that many athletes successfully compete while managing chronic illnesses, injuries, disabilities, and other medical conditions.
This policy is not intended to discourage participation or create barriers for athletes. Its purpose is to ensure that participation decisions are made responsibly, consistently, and with athlete welfare as the highest priority.
Athletes who communicate openly with Team Canada allow the organization to provide appropriate support while protecting both the individual athlete and the integrity of the team.
The health and safety of our athletes will always take precedence over competition/ qualification results or an athletes desire to compete.