Amateur Sanctioning Organizations

(1) Unless exempted pursuant to Rule 0145-05-.01, an amateur combatant shall not participate in any unarmed combat event or exhibition unless the event or exhibition is sanctioned by an amateur sanctioning organization recognized and approved by the Commission and the participant is registered with such sanctioning organization. The Commission will only approve and recognize those amateur sanctioning organizations that are able to establish and enforce rules regarding safety and rules regarding amateur conduct during unarmed combat as strict as, or stricter, than those established by the Commission for professional unarmed combat contests. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), a sanctioned event that is point based, does not allow for knockouts, or in which the use of padded headgear is mandatory shall not be required to comply with the provisions of T.C.A. § 68-115-404(f) regarding ambulatory and medical officials so long as a defibrillator and person(s) qualified to use the defibrillator are present at all times. The executive director may, within seven (7) days of the event, require any promoter claiming this exemption to provide information sufficient to the executive director to determine that the promoter is eligible for the exemption as set out in this paragraph (2). (3) The executive director may, in his or her discretion, upon request of a promoter of an event, exempt an event from any rule by taking into account: KICKBOXING AND MIXED MARTIAL ARTS CHAPTER 0145-05 (a) Whether such exemption would create an unreasonable risk to the health, safety, and welfare of any amateur; (b) Whether the rule creates a duplicative requirement satisfied by a promoter or sanctioning organization in another verifiable manner including, but not limited to, that the promoter or sanctioning organizer carries medical insurance; and (c) Whether such exemption would alleviate a promoter from an unnecessary expense without increasing a risk of harm to any amateur.