Australian Capital Territory
Boxing Control (Combat Sports) Code of Practice 2018 (No 1)
Disallowable instrument DI2018-42
made under the 
Boxing Control Act 1993, s 15 (Code of practice) 

1	Name of instrument
This instrument is the Boxing Control (Combat Sports) Code of Practice 2018 (No 1)*. 
2	Commencement 
This instrument commences on the day after its notification day.
3	Code of Practice (Combat Sports)
	I approve the Code of Practice (Combat Sports) in the schedule.
4	Revocation
This instrument revokes the Boxing Control (Boxing Contests Code of Practice) Determination 1996 [DI1996-233].

Yvette Berry MLA 
Minister for Sport and Recreation 

2 March 2018 

Schedule
(see s 3)

Code of Practice (Combat Sports)

(1)	Combat sports contests may only be conducted in accordance with the rules of  an organisation  subject to an approval to conduct a combat sport contest by the Minister under the Act, section 8. 

(2)	An approval may specify particular rules or conditions to apply to a particular contest. 

Medical requirements: 
(3)	A medical practitioner must be in attendance for the whole of every contest. 

(4)	The medical practitioner in Section 3 above must be provided with unrestricted access to carry out all duties as may be specified in the rules of the combat sport organisation specified in the approval. 

(5)	Notwithstanding Section (4) above, for professional combat sports contests the medical practitioner listed in Section 3 above will carry out all inspections and complete all written obligations for attending medical practitioners as required by the Combat Sports Authority of New South Wales (or equivalent NSW Government organisation), including but not limited to, pre-contest and post-contest examinations of contestants participating in the contests in which they are present for Section 3 purposes.

Venue Requirements: 
(6)	The approval to conduct a combat sport contest will specify the venue for that particular contest, and

(a)	Unless specified in the approval the number of tickets provided for the contest must not exceed the amount of seating available at the approved venue, and 

(b)	If the contest is to be conducted on licensed premises, or if liquor is to be available, the provisions of the Liquor Act 2010 (ACT) must be adhered to.

(7)	The specifications of the ring shall not vary from these detailed by the organisation under whose rules the contest is being conducted unless changes are specified as special conditions in the approval. Where the rules support the use of a fenced area/cage, the fenced area/cage must have a minimum of two entrances.

Registration: 
(8)	Where a contest involves children under the age of 18 years or an adult who is a vulnerable person, all officials must hold Working with Vulnerable People registration, and provide evidence of this registration upon request of the ACT Government authority or its representatives. Registration is not required when the official is under 16 years of age or if the official undertakes regulated activities in the ACT not more than three days in any four week period, and up to a maximum of seven days in any twelve month period (other than an overnight camp), as per the guidelines for Working with Vulnerable People registration. 

Note 	Working with Vulnerable People registration is managed by Access Canberra  under the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011. 

(9)	Professional combatants and officials for professional combat sports contests must not participate if current unimpeded registration with the Combat Sports Authority of New South Wales (or equivalent New South Wales Government organisation) cannot be confirmed by the ACT Government authority.

(10)	Applications for professional events that include combatants from Queensland or the Northern Territory will not be accepted unless the combatant/s concerned are registered with a combat sports regulator in another jurisdiction and have the appropriate medical and serology clearances to meet that jurisdiction’s requirements. 

(11)	Applications to hold a combat sports contest in the ACT must be lodged at least 28 days prior to the proposed contest/s with all supporting documentation, including a draft fight card (unless prior agreement has been made with the ACT Government authority to supply the fight card only at a later date). Payment of the pre-determined fee/s must accompany the application. 

(12)	The finalised fight card listing the combatants, the contest information including the disciplines/ to be contested, and rounds must be submitted at least five (5) days prior to the commencement of the first match, unless prior agreement has been made with the ACT Government authority. Any approval granted will only cover the combatants that are listed on the fight cards as notified to, and approved by, the ACT Government authority.  

(13)	Officers of the ACT Government authority or their associates, in the course of their duties are to be provided with access free of charge to all combat sport contests, including medical examinations and weigh-ins and are to be provided with a seat at the ring/ cage side with unobstructed view of the fighting area. The Officer/s have the authority to temporarily suspend or stop a fight in accordance with their duties. 

Promoters: 
(14)	The promoter of the combat sport contest must not be listed as a combatant on the fight card for the show that they promote. 

(15)	The promoter of the combat sport contest must not act as a judge, referee or timekeeper at the show that they promote; nor will they work in the corner of any fighter on a fight card that they promote. 

Protective Clothing: 
(16)	Clothing, headgear, gloves, footwear, groin protectors, chest protectors, bandaging, other safety apparel and all other equipment must be used as specified in the rules of the combat sport organisation specified in the approval. 

(17)	Notwithstanding Section 5 (16) above, mouthguards must be worn by all combatants. Where the rules of the combat sport organisation conflict with this Code of Practice, the Code of Practice will apply. 

Dictionary: 
		ACT Government authority means the ACT government directorate 		responsible for combat sports. 

		Vulnerable person—see the Working with Vulnerable People 			(Background Checking) Act 2011, section 7.