The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) is a public entity established by an Act of Parliament, Act No. 14 of 1997,

“To promote participation in sport free from the use of prohibited substances or methods intended to artificially enhance performance, thereby rendering impermissible doping practices which are contrary to the principles of fair play and medical ethics, in the interest of the health and well-being of sportspersons; and to provide for matters connected therewith”.

The Drug-Free Sport Act grants the Institute statutory drug testing powers and the authority to conduct and enforce a national anti-doping programme. By virtue of the Institute’s legislative ambit, national sports federations are obligated to co-operate with the Institute.

Since 1998 SAIDS has:

• Provided leadership in the development of a national anti-doping strategy in sport.
• Developed and implemented a comprehensive drug testing programme that includes all South Africa’s major sporting codes and conforms to the highest international standards of the industry.
• Provided education and information on drugs in sport to all its target markets
• Consulted to other African countries on building capacity towards developing an anti-doping infrastructure on the continent.
• Collaborated with other national anti-doping agencies throughout the world to achieve international harmonisation and improvement of standards and practices in anti-doping

The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport is an organisation not for gain. As such no dividends are declared to any members or outside parties and all funds received are utilised for the furtherance of the Institute’s objectives as outlined in Section 10 of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport Act No. 14 of 1997.

The Institute for Drug-Free Sport receives the majority of its funding from Sport and Recreation South Africa.