Contestant safety

Contestant application requirements

Applications for registration as a professional contestant must be accompanied by:

• A certificate of fitness completed by a medical practitioner.
• A blood testing form completed by a medical practitioner.
• A statement from a licensed trainer or match maker confirming that, in their opinion, you have the appropriate skills to compete in a professional contest.

The application process requires prospective contestants to view a short video about the risks of concussion and traumatic brain injury in combat sports and review the Board’s concussion management guidelines.

Contestant registration requirements

Once registration has been approved, contestants are required to present for pre and post medical assessments at every competition. Failure to present for a medical examination before or after a professional contest is an offence under the Act.

As a minimum, contestants are subject to a 15 day non-fight period following each contest. The non-fight period applied can be increased subject to medical advice and/or the outcome of contests and successive outcomes of contests (see below for details).

Contestants must comply with any direction given by a medical practitioner or the Board to obtain a medical clearance or undertake medical testing.

Competition rules

Competition rules provide powers to officials to safeguard contestant’s health and safety.

Ringside doctor

The  ringside doctor has the power to stop the contest or provide medical aid to an injured contestant if they believe that:

• A contestant has an impaired ability to defend themselves.
• There is a risk of injury to a contestant’s health if they continue.
• It is in the interests of the safety or welfare of a contestant.

Referee

The referee has the power to stop a contest or request the ringside doctor to examine a contestant if:

• They have been subject to heavy physical force.
• They have received many heavy blows to the head.
• They appear to be suffering from signs and symptoms consistent with concussion.
• They demonstrate an impaired ability to defend themselves.
• There is a risk of serious injury to a contestant’s health if the contest were to continue.
• It is in the interests of the safety or welfare of a contestant.

Trainer

The trainer is authorised to seek to stop a contest by throwing a towel into the ring/cage. The referee or ringside doctor will be the final arbiter of termination of the contest.

The Board

The Board is authorised to seek the ringside doctor’s examination of a contestant for any of the reasons outlined above.

Contestant ongoing suitability

The Board may suspend or cancel a contestant’s registration if the Board considers that the contestant lacks the required level of professional skills and this is in the interests of the contestant’s health or safety.