Unit Outline

Sports doping is a truly international problem and has a significant impact on todays society; from cheating, to the politics and ethics of sophisticated doping programs, the enormous bureaucracy and cost of monitoring and prosecuting, along with the impact on an individuals mental and physical health. Students will recognise drug classes that can enhance athletic performance, and that both doping and detection technologies are constantly evolving, leading to a sports doping arms race between detection and doping which drives newer and ever more sophisticated methods of cheating. The Unit begins with an overview of drug classes that are prohibited in sport, their mechanisms of action, effects on performance, and health effects. Students will then learn to appreciate the ethical and legal issues associated with sports doping detection, as well as an introduction into analytical testing methods and processes to ensure sample integrity. The unit incorporates online learning activities consisting of lectures and supportive contextual media, as well as experiential application of internet resources.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Explain whether a drug is a prohibited substance and whether it can be used in or out of competition by applying information from a range of sources.
2.	Apply scientific evidence to determine the type and magnitude of performance benefits and health risks associated with various prohibited drug classes.
3.	Examine the principles and practices for ethical professional interactions between disciplines and detection of prohibited substances in the field of sports doping local, national and globally.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	XBR122

Alterations as a result of student feedback

No alterations have been required. As always, the teaching team will greatly appreciate your feedback both informally during the delivery of the unit in 2024, and formally through the University of Tasmania’s eVALUate surveys following your completion of the unit.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Unit Plagiarism Quiz	Week 1	0 %
Assessment Task 2:	Unit Outline Quiz	Week 1	0 %
Assessment Task 3:	Poster	Week 5	25 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 4:	Assignment questions	Week 9	50 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 5:	Group assessment	Week 13	25 %	LO1, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Unit Plagiarism Quiz

Task Description:

Unit Plagiarism Quiz- You must complete this engagement activity by the due date or risk withdrawal from the unit.

Task Length:

30 minutes

Due Date:

Week 1

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)

Assessment Task 2: Unit Outline Quiz

Task Description:

Unit Outline Quiz - You must complete this engagement activity by the due date or risk withdrawal from the unit

Task Length:

30 minutes

Due Date:

Week 1

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)

Assessment Task 3: Poster

Task Description:

The development of a poster using Microsoft Powerpoint educating an actual/mock sporting group, organisation (eg. local sporting club or school group), or small group of friends about a particular performance enhancing drug. The presentation should include a title, how the drug is thought to work, effects on the body, and whether it can be used in or out of competition. Part of the poster should include a simulated example of an athlete with a health issue that requires drug treatment with a potentially banned drug. Examples of how to construct a poster will be provided. Students are also required to collate feedback from the presentation group and provide a reflection on how the poster could be improved. Covers content up to and including week 3. Standard descriptors for these criteria are included in the assessment rubric, located at the end of the assessment section/unit outline/in the Dropbox Folder description in MyLO.

Task Length:

Due Date:

Week 5

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Describe how the drug works	LO1
2	Describe the effects of the drug on the body	LO1
3	Outline whether the drug/prohibited substance can be used in or out of competition	LO1
4	Explain how the drug/prohibited substance could affect the long-term health of those who use it	LO1
5	Identify any additional steps that athletes may take to mask the effects of using this drug	LO1
6	Outline if there are reasons why this drug/substance may be used therapeutically	LO1
7	Use language that is appropriate considering the type of audience	LO1
8	Apply scientific evidence	LO2
9	Describe the performance benefits associated with prohibited drug use	LO2
10	Describe the health risks associated with prohibited drug use	LO2
11	Cite with appropriate referencing	LO2

Assessment Task 4: Assignment questions

Task Description:

2a Complete assignment questions on the identification of a particular drug /prohibited substance and describe its mode of action, why it could be used therapeutically, expected performance gains, and health risks. The task will require a review of the number of athletes caught using the drug and their type of athletic profile/sport, including a reflection on whether the expected performance gains match the type of sport.
2b Complete assignment questions on a fictitious doping case/scenario regarding the use of a particular drug /prohibited substance, from two different perspectives; (i) the athlete, and (ii) the perspective of a third party involved with the athlete (either coach, sponsor, family member, sports organisation, clinician as appropriate for the individual case), in terms of what are the cheating benefits and risks (detection, health) of using the particular drug/substance in a prohibited manner.
You should use language that is appropriate and knowledgeable.
The written assignment will be submitted in two parts (details will be provided) and will contribute to 50% of the total mark.
Covers content up to and including week 8.
Standard descriptors for these criteria are included in the assessment rubric, located at the end of the assessment section/unit outline/in the Dropbox Folder description in MyLO.

Task Length:

1200 words

Due Date:

Week 9

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Describe how the drug works	LO1
2	Describe the effects of the drug on the body	LO1
3	Outline whether the drug/prohibited substance can be used in or out of competition	LO1
4	Explain how the drug/prohibited substance could affect the long-term health of those who use it	LO1
5	Identify any additional steps that athletes may take to mask the effects of using this drug	LO1
6	Outline if there are reasons why this drug/substance may be used therapeutically	LO1
7	Use language that is appropriate considering the type of audience	LO1
8	Apply scientific evidence	LO2
9	Describe the performance benefits associated with prohibited drug use	LO2
10	Describe the health risks associated with prohibited drug use	LO2
11	Cite with appropriate referencing	LO2

Assessment Task 5: Group assessment

Task Description:

A group assessment facilitated through online discussion rooms, where participants review a fictitious case/scenario of doping from Assignment2 submissions. Group members each take on a particular role; the doping regulator, legal defence or appropriate representative, an analytical chemist, and the media (layperson/community perspective). Groups prepare a review of the case from each perspective and then distil and submit a group response position or solution.
Covers content up to and including week 13.
Standard descriptors for these criteria are included in the assessment rubric, located at the end of the assessment section/unit outline/in the Dropbox Folder description in MyLO.

Task Length:

1000 words

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Describe how the drug works	LO1
2	Comprehend assay quality assurance and the accuracy, precision, sensitivity and specificity associated with chemical testing of drugs	LO3
3	Describe the issues of doping detection, acceptable approaches, evidence required for prosecution and the appeal process	LO3
4	Describe ethical professional interactions pertaining to local, national and global scenarios	LO3
5	Consideration of legal issues associated with competitive sport	LO3

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.