General

These rules are promulgated by DanceSport Australia and shall be known as the Rules of DanceSport also referred to herein as the rules.

DanceSport Australia or DSA means DanceSport Australia Limited, ACN 085 929 835 a company limited by guarantee.

2.1 These rules are applicable to all members of DanceSport Australia and to those persons or organisations or affiliate members that hold registrations or accreditations from DanceSport Australia.

2.2 To the extent permitted under law, the rules are also applicable to all other non-registered members of the DanceSports fraternity, including spectators, at all registered DanceSports competitions throughout Australia and its Territories or Dependencies.

2.3 Disciplinary action against a person or body corporate that is not a member of DSA or who does not hold a registration with DSA, shall be carried out as if the person or body corporate IS a member of DSA or holds a registration with DSA, during the whole of the period covered by the disciplinary action.

2.4 No disciplinary action shall be implemented against any person or organisation unless the relevant procedures for hearing complaints and appeals (where an appeal is made) have been followed. This includes persons or organisations who are not members of DSA or who hold no registration with DSA.

2.5 If any rule is negated by a properly constituted court of law or is found to be invalid and not enforceable in accordance with its terms, the negation shall apply only in so far as the court’s jurisdiction provides and only to the rule negated. All other rules which are self-sustaining and capable of separate enforcement regarding the invalid rule shall continue to apply and be enforced in accordance with their own terms.

2.6 These rules shall be administered under the direction of the DSA National Board and thereafter by the respective Committees, or such other committees, organisations and appointees which DanceSport Australia may determine:

• Inquiries about these rules and complaints or protests on any matter should be made in the first instance to the DSA Ethics Committee.
• Should any point arise not covered by these rules, it shall be referred to the DSA Ethics Committee whose decision shall be binding.

2.7 Notwithstanding any other clause in these rules, the DSA National Board shall have the authority to make exemptions to these rules or to make special rules, but only for the specific purpose of meeting the conditions of a sponsorship, streaming/broadcasting media or other similar type agreement between DSA and a third party, where DSA is a primary beneficiary, and provided that the agreement itself complies with the objects of DSA as set out in the DSA Constitution.

3.1 Where any conflict arises in the interpretation or execution of these rules, as between these rules and any other rules, the following order of precedence shall apply:

• DSA Constitution
• DSA Policy
• A decision of the DSA National Board

4.1 The object of these rules is to provide an overall framework for the administration and management of the Competition Rules of DanceSport within Australia, in order to:

• Provide an equitable system of competition rules and guidelines for competitors that meet the changing needs of the DanceSport environment
• Provide a responsive approach to the resolution of appeals and disputes.
• Provide for an efficient system for the registration and administration of DanceSport competitions.
• Provide for an efficient and equitable set of guidelines for promoters and organisers of DanceSport competitions.
• Promote the condemnation of the use of performance-enhancing drugs by enforcing current drug and doping policies laid down by the Australian Sports Commission.
• Not to be inconsistent with, and to promote Australia’s interests concerning, international agreements and conventions relating to, the administration of DanceSport.

5.1 The Constitution of DanceSport Australia provides for a DSA Ethics Committee, which may act as an appeals committee or as a dispute arbitration committee.

• At its absolute discretion, the DSA National Board may refer disputes over the interpretation of these rules to the DSA Ethics Committee.
• Other disputes and appeals shall be referred to the DSA Ethics Committee in accordance with these rules.

5.2 Any member organisation has the right to refer any dispute or complaint directly to Sports Integrity Australia.

5.3 Any dispute or difference whatsoever arising out of, or in connection with these rules, which is not covered by a disciplinary and/or an appeal procedure, shall be submitted to mediation in accordance with, and subject to, the mediation process of Sports Integrity Australia.

5.4 It is a condition of any DSA registration or other dealings between DSA and a third party arising out of or in connection with these rules, that the registered person, partnership or body corporate, or other third party, shall have agreed to first follow the relevant disciplinary and appeal procedures set out in these rules, or otherwise the mediation process referred to in Rule 5.3, in respect of any dispute or difference arising out of or in connection with these rules.

6.1 Any changes to these rules must first be recommended to the DSA National Board by the DSA Chairperson Committee and have previously been set out in an agenda for a meeting of the DSA National Board.

6.2 Any rule change deemed necessary by the DSA National Board, the DSA National Board should first seek input from the DSA Chairperson Committee before implementation.

6.3 Rule changes can be proposed to the DSA Chairperson Committee by:

• A DSA member, by submission to the DSA Chairperson Committee who, in deciding to endorse any such proposal, may accept, reject or, in consultation with the proposer, amend the proposal. Such proposals will only be accepted for assessment by the DSA Chairperson Committee, with an endorsement from:
• A DSA National Director, or
• The DSA National Board, or
• A member of the DSA Chairperson Committee

6.4 DSA National Board may accept, amend or reject the recommendation from the DSA Chairperson Committee, and further may direct the DSA Chairperson Committee to review the recommendation, considering the recommendation(s) of the DSA National Board.

6.5 Nothing in the foregoing Section 6 shall affect the rights of the DSA National Board, under the Constitution, to inter alia make, alter, and repeal any by-law, policy statement and other directive as it may deem necessary or expedient for the proper conduct and management of DanceSport in Australia.

6.6 Notwithstanding anything stated anywhere else in these rules, any revision of, addition to or deletion from the rules must comply with the provisions of the DSA Constitution. Where there is inconsistency, the provisions of the DSA Constitution will be paramount.