Sports Integrity and Investigations

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

The pre-teaching period commences four weeks before the subject commencement date. From this time, students are expected to access and review the Reading Guide that will be available from the LMS subject page and the subject materials provided by the subject coordinator, which will be available from Melbourne Law School. Refer to the Reading Guide for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences.

Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.

The Melbourne Law Masters welcomes applications from students with disabilities. The inherent academic requirements for study in the Melbourne Law Masters are:

• The ability to attend a minimum of 75% of classes and actively engage in the analysis and critique of complex materials and debate;
• The ability to read, analyse and comprehend complex written legal materials and complex interdisciplinary materials;
• The ability to clearly and independently communicate in writing a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and to critically evaluate these;
• The ability to clearly and independently communicate orally a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and critically evaluate these;
• The ability to work independently and as a part of a group;
• The ability to present orally and in writing legal analysis to a professional standard.

Students who feel their disability will inhibit them from meeting these inherent academic requirements are encouraged to contact the Disability Liaison Unit: www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Sport is renowned for embodying some of the highest and most inspiring of human ideals. Few other pursuits activate the passion with which sport is played and followed. For many people sport delivers release from the shady aspects of life. This shining image is threatened by corrupt practices around doping, match-fixing, awarding event hosting rights and elections; some with links to illegal gambling and organised crime.

Sport bodies and governments around the world are taking legal and regulatory steps to counter these threats. This subject will explore the new frontier of sports law from criminal laws to mandatory information sharing and monitoring arrangements. With an understanding of the international legal order around ‘integrity’ and sports investigations, students will be well-placed to contribute to this emerging field both practically and academically.

Between them, the lecturers have extensive knowledge and industry experience in sports law, anti-doping, investigations and governance.

Principal topics include at both national and international levels:

• Nature and meaning of integrity in sports competition and governance including historical and empirical perspectives
• The criminalisation of the manipulation of sporting outcomes
• The legal regulation of gambling on sport and its relationship to integrity
• Regulatory measures of sports bodies to address manipulation of sporting outcomes
• Doping and the criminal law
• Ethical standards in the governance of sports bodies and the role of laws against bribery and corruption
• The structure and role of investigative and enforcement bodies such as ethics commissions and integrity units
• Powers of investigation and information-sharing of sports bodies and relevant government authorities with particular emphasis on doping and the manipulation of sporting outcomes.

A student who has successfully completed this subject will:

• Understand the nature of sports integrity and the threats to it presented by manipulation of sporting outcomes, doping and corrupt governance practices in both national and international contexts including links to organized crime and gambling;
• Understand the principles of Australian and international law applying to sports integrity;
• Understand the legal and regulatory aspects of measures taken by sports bodies to address threats to sports integrity;
• Understand the law affecting investigations by sport and government authorities into breaches of sports integrity;
• Be able to critically examine and assess the effectiveness of these laws and regulatory practices;
• Be an engaged participant in debate regarding emerging and contemporary issues in the field of sports integrity and investigations;
• Have the skills to generate critical and creative ideas relating to sports integrity and investigations, and to evaluate existing legal theories, principles and concepts with creativity and autonomy;
• Have the technical skills to independently examine, research and analyse existing and emerging legal issues relating to sports integrity and investigations;
• Have the communication skills to clearly articulate and convey complex information regarding sports and integrity and investigations;
• Be able to apply these skills and understanding in an advanced and specialised manner in both the international and Australian legal and policy contexts.

10,000 word research paper (100%) (3 February 2016) on a topic approved by the subject coordinator.

A minimum of 75% attendance is a hurdle requirement.

Core subject materials will be provided free of charge to all students. Some subjects require further texts to be purchased. Details regarding any prescribed texts will be provided prior to the commencement of the subject.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

This subject has a quota of 30 students. Please refer to the website www.law.unimelb.edu.au/masters/courses-and-subjects/subjects/subject-timing-and-format for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.