Employment relations, much discussed in other industries, has often been neglected in professional sports despite its unique characteristics. The book aims to explore in detail the unique nature of the employment relationship in professional sports and the sport industry. In four parts the book examines, firstly the regulation of sporting competition both within and across sporting codes; secondly a range of employment law issues such as how contracting and negotiation are handled, how disputes are resolved, and the role of sporting representatives such as player associations. The third section discusses the economic issues related to employment such as transfers, drafts and efforts to achieve ''competitive balance''. The final section of the book explores contemporary issues in sports management and governance, including anti-discrimination and anti-doping policy. Through this analysis the book identifies the complex and unique issues surrounding employment relations within professional sports and the sport industry. Contributors include: J. Anderson, M. Barry, P. Bouris, C. Coupland, C. Depken III, J.B. Dworkin, T. Engelberg, S. Gardiner, R. Gomez, B. Keller, L. Masteralexis, G. Maynes, H. Mitchell, S. Moston, J.A.R. Nafziger, M. Nichol, R. Paul, P. Schuwalow, J. Skinner, J. Solow, M. Stewart, K. Vieweg, P. Von Allmen, A. Weinbach, R. Welch

The book explores the changing landscape of anti-doping investigations, which now largely centre on the collection of intelligence about doping through processes such as surveillance, interviews with witnesses and interrogation of athletes. It examines why and how investigative processes, hitherto typically reserved for serious crimes, have been co-opted by anti-doping agencies into a situation where their potential for harm has received little or no critical consideration. This book highlights the opportunities and threats inherent in adopting new investigative processes. It is expected that many of the same problems that have engulfed forensic investigations over the last two decades, such as miscarriages of justice, are likely to surface in future anti-doping investigations. Drawing on empirical research and theory from a range of disciplines, including: forensic psychology, criminology, policing, law, sports management and policy studies, this book fills a scholarly vacuum on the investigation of doping through non-biological detection methods.

When investigating the diverse, complex and changing contemporary field of sport, we recognize there is no methodology that meets the needs of all sport. Sport researchers should take advantage of innovative approaches from other fields to explore emerging phenomena or innovatively advance scholarly sport research approaches. For example, technology, globalization and commercialization may be the principal trends, but they are not the only trends, Sport researchers have the opportunity to study other trends, including the modernization of sport organizations, changing governance practices, regulatory changes, innovation, merchandising, media and broadcasting technologies, socio demographic influences (i.e. aging populations, change in employment patterns, increasing diversity), sport for development, physical activity and sport participation changes. As such, this book introduces innovative research methods and approaches can be applied to the sport discipline. This book was originally published as a special issue of Sport in Society.

The book explores the changing landscape of anti-doping investigations, which now largely centre on the collection of intelligence about doping through processes such as surveillance, interviews with witnesses and interrogation of athletes. It examines why and how investigative processes, hitherto typically reserved for serious crimes, have been co-opted by anti-doping agencies into a situation where their potential for harm has received little or no critical consideration. This book highlights the opportunities and threats inherent in adopting new investigative processes. It is expected that many of the same problems that have engulfed forensic investigations over the last two decades, such as miscarriages of justice, are likely to surface in future anti-doping investigations. Drawing on empirical research and theory from a range of disciplines, including: forensic psychology, criminology, policing, law, sports management and policy studies, this book fills a scholarly vacuum on the investigation of doping through non-biological detection methods.

When investigating the diverse, complex and changing contemporary field of sport, we recognize there is no methodology that meets the needs of all sport. Sport researchers should take advantage of innovative approaches from other fields to explore emerging phenomena or innovatively advance scholarly sport research approaches. For example, technology, globalization and commercialization may be the principal trends, but they are not the only trends, Sport researchers have the opportunity to study other trends, including the modernization of sport organizations, changing governance practices, regulatory changes, innovation, merchandising, media and broadcasting technologies, socio demographic influences (i.e. aging populations, change in employment patterns, increasing diversity), sport for development, physical activity and sport participation changes. As such, this book introduces innovative research methods and approaches can be applied to the sport discipline. This book was originally published as a special issue of Sport in Society.