PURPOSE: This rule outlines the procedures for applying for and renewal of a license and clarifies the duties and responsibilities of contestants.

1. (1) An applicant applying for a license as a contestant shall:

   1. (A) Complete an application as required in section (2) of 4 CSR 40-2.011. Any person who provides incorrect information in an application for license as a contestant may be disciplined by the office;
   2. (B) Be at least sixteen (16) years of age;
   3. (C) Submit a signed notarized affidavit from their legal guardian approving them to participate in a contest if he/she is under the age of eighteen (18);
   4. (D) Disclose in writing on a form provided by the office a complete medical history including any prior or existing medical conditions;
   5. (E) Within thirty (30) 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 thirty (30)-day limit under special circumstances approved by the office; and
   6. (F) 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 ninety (90) days before the application is submitted.

2. (2) A contestant applying for renewal of a license:

   1. (A) Complete an application as required in section (2) of 4 CSR 40-2.011. Any person who provides incorrect information in an application for license as a contestant may be disciplined by the office;
   2. (B) Disclose in writing on a form provided by the office a complete medical history including any prior or existing medical conditions;
   3. (C) Within thirty (30) 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 licensee. The office may increase the thirty (30)-day limit under special circumstances approved by the office; and
   4. (D) Submit a certified copy of medical tests performed by a certified laboratory verifying the licensee is not infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B or C virus. The medical tests shall not be dated more than ninety (90) days before the application is submitted.
3. (3) An applicant or contestant who does not pass the physical examination or receives positive results from any of the tests required in sections (1) and (2) shall be denied the right to fight for that bout.
4. (4) All fees involved with medical examinations and/or tests required in sections (1) and (2), in addition to any drug test required in section (11), shall be the responsibility of the promoter, contestant or applicant.

5. (5) Within forty-eight (48) hours before competing in any professional boxing, professional kickboxing, professional full-contact karate or professional wrestling bout or contest, each contestant shall:

   1. (A) 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 one hundred eighty (180) days before the scheduled bout or contest in which the contestant will compete. A state- 20 CSR 2040-4

ment 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.

1. (B) Female contestants 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.

   1. 1. For purposes of this rule, a “reliable

means of pregnancy testing” shall consist of 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).

1. 2. Verification shall be in a form

approved by the Office.

1. 3. The office strongly cautions against

participating in any professional full-contact sport regulated by the office while pregnant.

1. (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 or professional wrestling bout or contest. The office may discipline any contestant who fails to provide truthful and accurate information as required by this section.

1. (6) The office will issue an identification card to each boxing 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 boxer who so applies. The boxer shall provide a recent photograph for the identification card and any other information that is requested by the office. An identification card may not be substituted for the license to engage in boxing held by the boxer.
2. (7) Each contestant for professional boxing, professional kickboxing or professional fullcontact karate must 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 shall waive his/her rights under this section. FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION
3. (8) The contestant for professional boxing, professional kickboxing or professional fullcontact 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.
4. (9) The office may require contestants to be weighed more than once for any cause deemed sufficient to the office.
5. (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 shall be denied the right to fight for that bout.
6. (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.
7. (12) A contestant licensed by the office may be required to submit to any medical examination or test ordered by the office prior to participation in a bout.
8. (13) A boxing 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 shall result in the boxing contestant being disallowed to participate in a bout.

9. (14) A boxing contestant licensed by the office is subject to disciplinary action by the office if the contestant knowingly:

   1. (A) Provides false information for an identification card or falsifies or attempts to falsify an identification card, or aids in such acts;
   2. (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 professional boxing; or
   3. (C) Otherwise violates the provisions of this section.
10. (15) Each contestant must report to the representative of the office in charge of dressing rooms at least thirty (30) minutes before the scheduled time of the first bout of professional boxing, professional wrestling, professional kickboxing, and professional full-contact karate contest. Failure to do so may result in the contestant being disallowed to participate in the bout.
11. (16) Contestants shall at all times abide by the statutes and rules of Missouri governing professional boxing, professional wrestling, professional kickboxing or professional fullcontact karate.
12. (17) Contestants shall at all times observe the directions and decisions of all officials.

13. (18) A contestant of boxing may not have a promoter or any of its members, stockholders, officials, matchmakers or assistant matchmakers—

    1. (A) Act directly or indirectly as his/her manager; or
    2. (B) Hold any financial interest in his/her management or his/her earnings from each contest.
14. (19) Contestants for professional wrestling shall include anyone participating in any wrestling activities whether inside or outside the ring during a contest.
15. (20) The belt of the trunks must not extend above the waist line.

16. (21) Each boxing, full-contact karate or martial arts contestant must wear:

    1. (A) A mouthpiece which has been individually fitted; and
    2. (B) An abdominal protector which will protect him against injury from a foul blow.
17. (22) Each contestant must be clean and present a tidy appearance.
18. (23) The excessive use of petroleum jelly shall not be used on the face or body of a contestant. The referees or the office’s representative in charge shall cause any excessive petroleum jelly to be removed.
19. (24) The office’s representative shall 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 shall not compete in the bout unless the circumstances creating the hazard or potential interference are corrected to the satisfaction of the office’s representative.
20. (25) A contestant may not wear any jewelry or other piercing accessories while competing in a bout.

21. (26) The office may honor the suspension of a contestant by an agency that regulates professional boxing, professional wrestling, professional kickboxing, and professional fullcontact karate in another jurisdiction if the suspension is ordered for:

    1. (A) Medical safety;
    2. (B) A violation of a law or regulation governing professional boxing, professional kickboxing, and professional full-contact karate which also exists in this state; or
    3. (C) Any other conduct which discredits professional boxing, professional kickboxing, and professional full-contact karate, as determined by the office.
22. (27) 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.

AUTHORITY: sections 317.006 and 317.015, RSMo 2000.* 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. *Original authority: 317.006, RSMo 1983, amended 1996; and 317.015, RSMo 1996.