PURPOSE: This rule establishes criteria and licensing guidelines for mixed martial arts contestants.

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

   1. (A) Complete an application as required in 20 CSR 2040-8.010;
   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 one hundred eighty (180) days of application for licensure, a contestant shall 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 the contestant is in sufficient medical condition to compete as a mixed martial arts contestant. Contestants shall disclose all medical history and conditions to the physician during the physical examination, including, whether the contestant is pregnant. The office may increase the one hundred eighty (180)-day limit under special circumstances approved by the office; and
   6. (F) 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 and eighty
2. (180) days before the application is submitted. A statement from a physician 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.

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

   1. (A) Complete an application as required in 20 CSR 2040-8.020. Any person who provides incorrect information on 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; 20 CSR 2040-8
   3. (C) Within one hundred eighty (180) days of application for renewal, a contestant shall 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 the contestant is in sufficient physical and mental health to compete as a mixed martial arts contestant. Contestants shall disclose all medical history and conditions to the physician during the physical examination, including, whether the contestant is pregnant. The office may increase the one hundred eighty (180)-day limit under special circumstances approved by the office; and
   4. (D) 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 application is submitted. A statement from a physician 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.
4. (3) A contestant who is not determined by a physician to be physically fit to compete as a mixed martial arts contestant after the required physical examination or receives positive results for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B or C virus shall be denied the right to fight in a bout. However, a contestant that has tested positive for hepatitis B may participate in a bout if the contestant has successfully completed a full course of vaccinations for hepatitis B as verified by a physician or doctor of osteopathy, provided the contestant does not test positive for HIV or hepatitis C and is otherwise determined to be physically and mentally fit to compete as required by the rules of the office.
5. (4) All fees involved with medical examinations and/or tests required in sections (1) and (2), in addition to any drug test required in subsection (6)(B) of this rule, shall be the responsibility of the promoter, contestant or applicant.

6. (5) Within forty-eight (48) hours before competing in any mixed martial arts 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) FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION

days before the scheduled bout or contest in which the contestant will compete. A statement from a physician 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; and

1. (B) Female contestants shall submit a written affidavit verifying that the contestant has taken a reliable means of pregnancy testing and that the contestant is aware of her pregnancy status and has voluntarily agreed to participate in the bout or contest.

   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. Affidavits shall be on 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) Physical Examinations.

   1. (A) Immediately preceding the contest, at a time designated by the office, all contestants shall pass a physical examination given by a physician licensed and designated by the office, in accordance with the office’s rules and regulations. Contestants shall disclose all medical history and conditions to the physician during the physical examination, including, whether the contestant is pregnant. If the physician finds a contestant is not physically fit to compete as a mixed martial arts contestant, the contestant shall be denied the right to fight for that bout.
   2. (B) 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, including a drug test. All fees involved with drug tests are the responsibility of the contestant. Failure to submit to a test upon notification and/or failure to pay all applicable testing fees may result in disciplinary action being taken against the contestant’s license and the contestant being disallowed by the office to participate in the bout.
2. (7) Each contestant shall report to the representative of the office in charge of dressing rooms at least thirty (30) minutes before the scheduled time of the first professional mixed martial arts contest. Failure to do so may result in the contestant being disallowed to participate in the bout.
3. (8) Contestants shall at all times abide by the statutes and rules of Missouri governing mixed martial arts.
4. (9) Contestants shall at all times observe the directions and decisions of all officials.
5. (10) Any professional mixed martial arts contestant who has competed as a professional boxer, professional kickboxer, professional wrestler, professional martial arts or professional mixed martial arts contestant anywhere in the world shall not be allowed to compete as a contestant in any professional mixed martial arts bout in Missouri until seven (7) days have elapsed from the date of the previous bout.
6. (11) 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, manager, matchmaker or second who violates, or assists or enables another to violate, the provisions of this section.

7. (12) The office may honor the suspension of a contestant by an agency that regulates professional mixed martial arts in another jurisdiction if the suspension is ordered for:

   1. (A) Medical safety;
   2. (B) A violation of a law or regulation governing professional mixed martial arts, professional boxing, professional kick-boxing or professional full-contact karate that would constitute a violation of the laws or regulations of this state; or
   3. (C) Any other conduct which discredits professional mixed martial arts, professional boxing, professional kick-boxing or professional full-contact karate, as determined by the office.
8. (13) Any contestant who is currently identified as on suspension or revocation in any state or territory, or any other source selected by the office that maintains records of the suspension of revocation of professional mixed martial arts contestants, for any reason specified in section (12) of this rule, shall not participate in any professional mixed martial arts bout in Missouri until the suspension or revocation is lifted.
9. (14) The office may deny a contestant a license if their license to participate or compete as a professional boxer, wrestler, kickboxer or full-contact 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 317.001 and 317.006, RSMo 2007.* Original rule filed April 3, 2007, effective Oct. 30, 2007. *Original authority: 317.001, RSMo 1983, amended 1996 and 317.006, RSMo 1983, amended 1996.