Corruption in International Sport

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

This subject has a quota of 30 students. Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.

136-150 hours

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 Student Equity and Disability Support.

Protecting the integrity of sport from doping and match-fixing has become a high profile cause, especially with growing concern over links to illegal gambling, money laundering (estimated at US$130 billion throughsports betting) and organised crime. Yet perhaps an even greater threat to the integrity and reputation of sport is to be found away from the fields of play. Corruption in the boardrooms and administrative offices of the very bodies charged with bringing leadership and good governance to world sport threatens to undermine the willingness of national governments, broadcasters and sponsors to provide essential support and services to disillusioned athletes and fans.

Corruption in International Sport is a new subject which explores the murky realm of ‘off-field corruption’. In comparison to anti-doping and anti-match fixing, off-field corruption has been lightly regulated and controlled. This subject will investigate the major scandals and the legal and regulatory responses of both international sports bodies and national governmental authorities. With an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the international legal order applying to corruption in sport, students will be in a position to contribute to debate and regulatory development concerning this important issue.

The lecturers share extensive knowledge in sports integrity and will bring international and national perspectives to the subject matter.

Principal topics include:

• Nature and incidence of corruption in international sport with particular attention to the allocation of event hosting rights, commercial dealings, governance and links between doping, match-fixing and sports betting
• The role and nature of international and national laws against bribery and corruption including jurisdictional issues and the realtionship between such laws
• Anti-corruption standards and measures in international sports bodies
• Regulatory measures of sports bodies to address corruption in the awarding of event hosting and other commercial rights
• Ethical standards in the governance of sports bodies including protocols for transparency
• The mechanisms of investigation and prosecution of corrupt activity including information-sharing between sports and relevant government authorities
• The role of independent, private monitoring agencies and pressure groups such as the news media and Transparency International.

A student who has successfully completed this subject will:

• Understand the nature of corruption in international sport and the threats that it presents to the integrity, economy and good reputation of sport
• Understand international and national laws against bribery and corruption as they apply to sport
• Understand the legal, regulatory and practical aspects of measures taken by sports bodies to address corruption
• Understand the law affecting investigations by sport and government authorities into corruption in international sport
• 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 corruption in international sport
• Have the skills to generate critical and creative ideas relating to corruption in international sport, 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 corruption in international sport
• Have the communication skills to clearly articulate and convey complex information regarding corruption in international sport
• 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%) (24 October) on a topic approved by the subject coordinator

A minimum of 75% attendance is a hurdle requirement.

Specialist printed materials will be made available free of charge from the Melbourne Law School prior to the pre-teaching period.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.