a) The following actions in a bout or contest shall be considered fouls:

1. 1) Butting with the head;
2. 2) Eye gouging of any kind;
3. 3) Biting;
4. 4) Hair pulling;
5. 5) Fishhooking;
6. 6) Groin attacks of any kind;
7. 7) Putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration of an opponent;
8. 8) Small joint manipulation;
9. 9) Striking to the spine or the back of the head;
10. 10) Striking downward, "sky to earth", using the point of the elbow;
11. 11) Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea;
12. 12) Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh;
13. 13) Grabbing the clavicle;
14. 14) Kicking the head of a grounded opponent;
15. 15) Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent;
16. 16) Stomping a grounded opponent;
17. 17) Kicking to the kidney with the heel;
18. 18) Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck;
19. 19) Throwing an opponent out of the ring or fenced area;
20. 20) Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent;
21. 21) Spitting at an opponent;
22. 22) Engaging in any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes injury to an opponent;
23. 23) Holding the ropes or the fence;
24. 24) Using abusive language in the ring or fenced area;
25. 25) Attacking an opponent during the break;
26. 26) Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee;
27. 27) Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the period of unarmed combat;
28. 28) Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee;
29. 29) Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury;
30. 30) Interference by the corner from anyone working a contestant's corner, including leaving the corner's designated area;
31. 31) Any act that, in the judgment of the referee, is detrimental and places an opponent at a disadvantage or risk, such as applying a foreign substance to one's hair, body, clothing or gloves prior to or during a contest; and
32. 32) Throwing in the towel during competition.

b) Injuries

1. 1) The referee, at his or her discretion, may request that the physician examine a contestant during the bout. Should the examination occur during the course of a round, the clock shall be stopped until the examination is completed. The physician may recommend that the referee stop the bout, in which case the referee shall render the appropriate decision.
2. 2) In the event of serious cuts or injuries, the referee shall summon the physician who shall advise whether the bout should be stopped.

3. 3) A referee may consider the decision of the physician.

   1. 4) The referee shall be authorized to determine if injuries were produced by a foul, and if the foul was intentional or accidental.

c) Injuries Sustained by Fair Blows and Fouls

1. 1) Fair Blows

   If an injury is severe enough to terminate a contest, the injured contestant loses by technical knockout (TKO).

2. 2) Fouls

   1. A) Intentional

      1. i) If an intentional foul causes an injury, and the injury is severe enough to terminate a bout immediately, the contestant causing the injury shall lose by disqualification.
      2. ii) If an intentional foul causes an injury and the bout is allowed to continue, the referee may notify the Division representative and may deduct points from the contestant who caused the foul.
      3. iii) If an intentional foul causes an injury and the injury results in the bout being stopped in a later round, the injured contestant shall win by technical decision if he or she is ahead on the scorecards, or the bout shall result in a technical draw if the injured contestant is behind or even on the scorecards.
      4. iv) If a contestant injures himself or herself while attempting to intentionally foul his or her opponent, the referee shall not take any action in his or her favor, and this injury shall be the same as one produced by a fair blow.
      5. v) If the referee believes that a contestant has conducted himself or herself in an unsportsmanlike manner, the referee may stop the bout and disqualify the contestant.

   2. B) Accidental

      1. i) If the referee determines, either from his or her own observation or on the advise of the physician, that the bout should not continue because of the injury from the accidental foul, the bout will be declared a no contest if the foul occurred:

         · during the first 2 rounds of a non-championship bout; or

         · during the first 3 rounds of a championship bout.

      2. ii) If the referee determines, either from his or her own observation or on the advise of the physician, that the bout should not continue because of the injury from the accidental foul, the bout will be determined by scoring the completed rounds and the round in which the referee stops the bout if the foul occurred:

         · after the completion of the second round in a non-championship bout; or

         · after the completion of the third round in a championship bout.

      3. iii) A contestant who is hit with an accidental low-blow must continue after a reasonable amount of time, but no more than 5 minutes, or he or she may lose the bout by technical knockout.
      4. iv) If an injury from an accidental foul later becomes aggravated by fair blows and the referee orders the bout stopped because of the injury, the outcome must be determined by scoring the completed rounds and the round in which the referee stops the contest.
      5. 3) In assessing fouls, the referee shall weigh the cause, as well as the effect. If the referee has seen an unauthorized blow, strike or attack delivered that has a damaging effect, the referee may permit a rest period to the victim not to exceed 5 minutes. During the rest period, seconds may not assist or coach the injured contestant. The offending contestant shall go to a neutral corner and shall not be coached during the period.
      6. 4) At the discretion of the referee, the referee may give an official warning or penalty to the offending contestant for the unauthorized blow, strike or attack, and then may give the command to continue after the end of the rest period if the contestant who received the unauthorized blow, strike or attack indicates ability to continue the bout. If the injured contestant refuses to continue after a 5 minute rest period, the opponent shall be named the winner.
      7. 5) Repeated unauthorized blows, strikes or attacks shall be penalized with deduction of points from the offending contestant or disqualification of the offending contestant.
      8. 6) A contestant cannot be named the winner of a bout as the result of receiving an unauthorized blow, strike or attack, or low blow unless, in the opinion of the referee, the unauthorized blow, strike or attack was delivered deliberately and with enough force to seriously incapacitate the injured contestant so that he or she could not continue the bout. Under this condition, the offender shall be dis­qualified immediately.

   3. 7) A fouled contestant has up to 5 minutes to recuperate.

      1. 8) Only the referee can assess a foul and any point deductions. If the referee does not call the foul, judges shall not make that assessment on their own.

3. 9) If a foul is committed:

   1. A) The referee shall call time.

      1. B) The referee shall check the fouled contestant's condition and safety.
      2. C) The referee shall then assess the foul to the offending contestant, deduct points and notify the seconds, judges and official scorekeeper.
      3. 10) If a bottom contestant commits a foul, unless the top contestant is injured, the contest will continue.

      4. A) The referee will verbally notify the bottom contestant of the foul.

         1. B) When the round is over, the referee will assess the foul and notify both corners, the judges and the official scorekeeper.
         2. C) The referee may terminate a bout based on the severity of a foul. If the referee terminates a bout under such circumstances, the contestant committing the foul shall lose by disqualification.
      5. 11) When any injury is severe enough for the referee to stop the contest immediately after 2 rounds of a 3 round contest, or after 3 rounds of a 5 round contest, are complete, the results of the bout shall be determined as if the bout were completed.
      6. 12) Disqualification occurs after any combination of 3 fouls or if the referee determines the foul to be intentional.
      7. 13) Except as provided in this Section, any contestant guilty of committing a foul in a round shall be given an immediate warning and points may be deducted from the contestant's total score as determined by the referee. The use of foul tactics may also result in the disqualification of the contestant.