Sports Integrity and Investigations (LAWS70462)
Graduate coursework level 7Points: 12.5Not available in 2025
About this subject
Overview
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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 and other activities; some with links to illegal gambling and organised crime. Also, the holding of public inquiries into questionable incidents and behaviour occurring in the context of sport can have an adverse impact.
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, and onto the establishment and processes of inquiries. 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
- Anti-doping rules including the World Anti-Doping Code and their status under international law
- Doping and the criminal law
- The structure and role of investigative and enforcement bodies such as ethics commissions and integrity units
- The establishment and conduct of investigations and inquiries into sports activities and bodies including the adoption of methodologies and practices which are culturally and trauma informed
- Powers of investigation and information-sharing of sports bodies and relevant government authorities with particular emphasis on doping and the manipulation of sporting outcomes and athlete abuse allegations.
Intended learning 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
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Corequisites
Non-allowed subjects
Recommended background knowledge
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.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Research paper on a topic approved by the subject coordinator
| 14 August 2024 | 100% |
| Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance. Note: the attendance hurdle does not apply when the subject is delivered online, however attendance at all live online sessions is expected. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
Not available in 2025
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students.
Enrolment is on a 'first in' basis. Waitlists are maintained for subjects that are fully subscribed.
Students should note priority of waitlisted places in subjects will be given as follows:
- To currently enrolled Graduate Diploma and Masters students with a satisfactory record in their degree
- To other students enrolling on a single subject basis, eg Community Access Program (CAP) students, cross-institutional study and cross-faculty study.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Melbourne Law School may reserve places in a subject for incoming international cohorts or where a subject is core to a specialisation with limited alternate options.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Commercial Law Course Graduate Diploma in Government Law Course Graduate Diploma in Dispute Resolution Course Master of Laws Course Graduate Diploma in Laws Course Master of Public and International Law Course Juris Doctor - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If subject coordinator approval is required prior to enrolment, or for further information about the pre-requisites for Community Access Program study, please contact us:
- prospective CAP student enquiries;
- existing CAP student enquiries (if you have a current Unimelb login).
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 March 2025