Contestants

PURPOSE: This rule outlines the procedures for applying for and renewal of a license and clarifies the duties and responsibilities of contestants. (1) An applicant applying for a professional license or renewal as a contestant shall— (A) Complete an application pursuant to section (2) of 20 CSR 2040-2.011. Any person who provides incorrect information in an application for license as a contestant may be disciplined by the office; (B) Be at least eighteen (18) years of age except amateur kickboxing contestants; (C) Disclose in writing on a form provided by the office a complete medical history including any prior or existing medical conditions; (D) Within sixty (60) days of application for licensure successfully complete a physical examination by physician with the designation “medical doctor” or “doctor of osteopathy” and submit a written statement from the physician attesting to the physical and mental health of the applicant. The office may increase the sixty-(60-) day limit under special circumstances approved by the office; and (E) Submit a certified copy of medical tests performed by a certified laboratory verifying the applicant is not infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B or C virus. The medical tests shall not be dated more than three hundred sixty-five (365) days before the application is submitted. (2) An applicant applying for an amateur license or renewal as a contestant shall— (A) Complete an application pursuant to section (2) of 20 CSR 2040-2.011. Any person who provides incorrect information in an application for license as a contestant may be disciplined by the office; (B) Be at least eighteen (18) years of age, except for amateur kickboxing. (C) Disclose in writing on a form provided by the office a complete medical history including any prior or existing medical conditions; (D) Within sixty (60) days of application for licensure successfully complete a physical examination by a physician with the designation “medical doctor” or “doctor of osteopathy” and submit a written statement from the physician attesting to the physical and mental health of the applicant. The office may increase the sixty (60) day limit under special circumstance approved by the office; and (E) The office may require a contestant to submit a certified copy of medical tests performed by a certified laboratory verifying the applicant is not infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B or C virus. The medical test shall not be dated more than three hundred sixty-five (365) days before the applicant is submitted or participates in a bout. (3) An applicant or contestant who does not pass the physical examination or receives positive results from any of the tests required in section (1) may be denied the right to fight for that bout. (4) All fees involved with medical examinations and/or tests required in section (1) in addition to any drug test required in section (11), shall be the responsibility of the promoter, contestant, or applicant. (5) Within forty-eight (48) hours before competing in any bout or contest, each contestant shall— (A) Each professional boxing, professional kickboxing, professional wresting or professional mix martial arts contestant shall submit certified copies of medical tests performed by a laboratory verifying that the applicant is not infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B or C virus. The medical tests shall not be dated more than three hundred sixty-five (365) days before the scheduled bout or contest in which the contestant will compete. A statement from a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy indicating that the applicant has successfully completed a full course of vaccinations for hepatitis B may be submitted in lieu of the medical tests required by this rule for hepatitis B; (B) All female contestants, including amateur mixed martial arts and amateur kickboxing, shall verify in writing that the contestant has taken a reliable means of pregnancy testing and that the contestant is aware of her pregnancy status; and 1. For purposes of this rule, a “reliable means of pregnancy testing” is a pregnancy test administered by a state or local health department or a licensed medical doctor or licensed doctor of osteopathy. A “reliable means of pregnancy testing” may also include a self-administered pregnancy test that has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration or that is able to detect or determine the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). 2. Verification may be in a form approved by the office. 3. The office strongly cautions against participating in any professional full-contact sport regulated by the office while pregnant; (C) A contestant who fails to comply with the requirements of this rule shall not be allowed to compete as a contestant in any professional boxing, professional kickboxing, professional full-contact karate, professional wrestling, professional mixed martial arts, amateur mixed martial arts, or amateur kickboxing bout or contest. The office may discipline any contestant who fails to provide truthful and accurate information pursuant to this section. (6) The office will issue an identification card to each contestant for the purpose of registration pursuant to the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996, 15 U.S.C. section 6301 et seq., to each contestant who so applies. The contestant shall provide a recent photograph for the identification card and any other information that is requested by the office. An identification card cannot be substituted for the license to engage in professional boxing. All professional and amateur mixed martial arts, kickboxing, and full-contact karate contestants will be issued a picture identification card as approved by the Association of Boxing Commissions or other like organization’s officially approved registry for their respective sport. (7) Each contestant for professional boxing, professional or amateur kickboxing, professional or amateur mixed martial arts, or professional full-contact karate, will be weighed in the presence of the public, his/her opponent, a representative of the office, and an official representing the promoter on scales approved by the office at any place designated by the office. If a contestant cannot be present at the designated time set by the office, a contestant may waive his/her rights under this section. (8) The contestant for professional boxing, professional or amateur kickboxing, professional or amateur mixed martial arts, or professional full-contact karate must have all weights stripped from his/her body before he/she is weighed in, but male contestants may wear shorts. Female contestants may wear shorts and a sports bra. (9) The office may require contestants to be weighed more than once for any cause deemed sufficient to the office. (10) Immediately preceding the contest, at a time designated by the office, all contestants must pass a physical examination given by a physician licensed by the office, in accordance with the office’s rules and regulations. A contestant who does not pass the physical examination cannot fight in that bout. (11) The office may require a contestant to submit to a drug test. Failure to submit to a drug test upon notification by an inspector may result in disciplinary action being taken against the contestant’s license. All fees involved with a drug test are the responsibility of the contestant. (12) A contestant licensed by the office may have to submit to any medical examination or test ordered by the office prior to participation in a bout. (13) A contestant shall present his/her identification card to the office representative at weigh-in for a bout and at any other time ordered by the office or its representative. Failure to possess the card may result in the contestant being disallowed to participate in a bout. (14) A contestant licensed by the office is subject to disciplinary action by the office if the contestant knowingly: (A) Provides false information for an identification card or falsifies or attempts to falsify an identification card, or aids in such acts; (B) Uses or attempts to use an identification card in an unlawful manner or in a manner that is not in the best interests of their respective sport; or (C) Otherwise violates the provisions of this section. (15) Each contestant must report to the representative of the office in charge of dressing rooms at least sixty (60) minutes before the scheduled time of the first bout of professional boxing, professional wrestling, professional or amateur kickboxing, professional or amateur mixed martial arts, and professional full-contact karate contest. Failure to do so may result in the contestant being disallowed to participate in the bout. (16) Contestants shall at all times abide by the statutes and rules of Missouri governing professional boxing, professional wrestling, professional or amateur kickboxing, professional or amateur mixed martial arts, or professional full-contact karate. (17) Contestants shall at all times observe the directions and decisions of all officials and inspectors. (18) A contestant of boxing may not have a promoter or any of its members, stockholders, officials, matchmakers, or assistant matchmakers— (A) Act directly or indirectly as his/her manager; or (B) Hold any financial interest in his/her management or his/her earnings from each contest. (19) Contestants for professional wrestling may include anyone participating in any wrestling activities whether inside or outside the ring during a contest. (20) The belt of the trunks cannot extend above the waist line for professional boxing, professional or amateur kickboxing, or professional full-contact karate. (21) Each boxing, full-contact karate or kickboxing contestant must wear— (A) A mouthpiece which has been individually fitted; and (B) An abdominal protector which will protect him against injury from a foul blow. (22) The excessive use of petroleum jelly may not be used on the face or body of a contestant. The referees or the office’s representative in charge may cause any excessive petroleum jelly to be removed. (23) The office’s representative may determine whether head and facial hair presents any hazard to the safety of the contestant or his/her opponent or would interfere with the supervision and conduct of the bout. If the head and facial hair of the contestant present such a hazard or would interfere with the supervision and conduct of the bout, the contestant may not compete in the bout unless the circumstances creating the hazard or potential interference are corrected to the satisfaction of the office’s representative. (24) A contestant will not wear any jewelry or other piercing accessories while competing in a bout. (25) Any professional or amateur mixed martial arts contestant who has competed as a boxer, kickboxer, wrestler, martial arts, or mixed martial arts contestant anywhere in the world will not be allowed to compete as a contestant in any professional or amateur mixed martial arts bout in Missouri until seven (7) days have elapsed from the date of the previous bout. (26) Any person who has competed as a professional boxer, professional kickboxer, professional wrestler, professional martial arts, or professional mixed martial arts contestant may not participate as an amateur contestant in a mixed martial arts event in the state of Missouri. The office may discipline the license of any contestant, promoter, matchmaker, or second who violates, or assists or enables another to violate, the provisions of this section. (27) The office may honor the suspension of a contestant by an agency that regulates professional boxing, professional wrestling, professional or amateur kickboxing, professional or amateur mixed martial arts, and professional full-contact karate in another jurisdiction if the suspension is ordered for: (A) Medical safety; (B) A violation of a law or regulation governing professional boxing, professional or amateur kickboxing, professional or amateur mixed martial arts, and professional full-contact karate which also exists in this state; or (C) Any other conduct which discredits professional boxing, professional or amateur kickboxing, professional or amateur mixed martial arts, and professional full-contact karate, as determined by the office. (28) The office may deny a contestant a license if their license to participate or compete as a boxer, wrestler, kickboxer, or fullcontact karate participant has been denied, refused, or disciplined for a medical condition by another state, tribal athletic commission, territory, federal agency, or country. The office shall not issue a license to a contestant who has suffered a cerebral hemorrhage of any type. (29) No amateur kickboxing contestant under eighteen (18) years of age may participate in a bout against a contestant who is more than two (2) years older. AUTHORITY: section 317.006, RSMo Supp. 2018, and section 317.015, RSMo 2016.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 40-4.090. Original rule filed April 30, 1982, effective Sept. 11, 1982. Rescinded and readopted: Filed March 2, 1989, effective May 11, 1989. Amended: Filed Nov. 15, 2001, effective May 30, 2002. Rescinded and readopted: Filed May 13, 2005, effective Nov. 30, 2005. Moved to 20 CSR 2040-4.090, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed Aug. 2, 2006, effective Feb. 28, 2007. Amended: Filed March 27, 2007, effective Sept. 30, 2007. Amended: Filed March 20, 2018, effective Sept. 30, 2018. Amended: Filed Jan. 25, 2019, effective Aug. 30, 2019. *Original authority: 317.006, RSMo 1983, amended 1996, 2007, 2018 and 317.015, RSMo 1996, 2007.