61K1-3.016. Pre-Match Physical of Participant and Referee

(1) Each participant shall, at the time of the weigh-in, be examined by a physician as defined by Section 548.002(18), F.S. The physician shall certify in writing the participant’s physical condition and a professional assessment as to whether or not the participant may engage in the match. The physician shall, prior to the match, file with the commission representative a written report of the medical examination of the participant, which report shall state whether or not, in the opinion of the physician, the participant is physically fit to engage in the match. No participant shall be permitted to engage in a match unless he or she has been examined and pronounced fit to do so by a physician.

(2) Physicians shall have a suitable place or room in which to make their examinations prior to each match.

(3) The examination given all participants shall include the following:

(a) Temperature;

(b) Pulse; sitting, standing and running;

(c) Lungs;

(d) Heart;

(e) Blood pressure;

(f) Vision;

(g) Weight;

(h) Skin.

(4) No participant shall be allowed to engage in any match if any of the following conditions are found by the physician:

(a) Inguinal and/or abdominal hernia;

(b) Organic heart murmurs;

(c) Active pulmonary lesions;

(d) Abnormal temperature as determined by the physician;

(e) Blood pressure over 140/90 mmHg. If the systolic pressure is above 140, the physician shall take the participant’s blood pressure again either within twenty (20) minutes or on the day of the matches. Amateurs may fight with a systolic pressure over 140, at the discretion of the physician;

(f) Active infectious communicable disease, including skin lesions, such as boils or infected wounds, as well as any other bacterial, viral, fungal, and/or mycobacterial communicable diseases, including tuberculosis;

(g) Recent wounds, especially on face and ears;

(h) Hand injury and/or fracture(s) less than 6 weeks old, if, in the physician’s opinion, the injury would be detrimental to the participant’s health or ability to effectively compete or exhibit;

(i) Reason to believe that the participant is using or is under the influence of a prohibited substance contained within Rule 61K1-3.017, F.A.C.

(j) Dental abscess or loose tooth or teeth;

(k) Ophthalmological problem(s) including:

1. Retinopathy or detached retina; provided however, that the applicant shall be permitted to participate in a match if the participant provides, at or before the weigh-in, the written statement of a licensed ophthalmologist stating that the participant’s retina is completely healed and that in the ophthalmologist’s expert medical opinion, no unusual or extraordinary risk to the participant is anticipated as a result of the retinopathy or a previously detached retina;

2. Solitary eye;

3. Blindness defined as central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the best eye with the best possible correction, and/or a visual field of 20 degrees or less.

(l) History of epilepsy or seizures, provided however, that the applicant shall be permitted to participate in a match if the participant provides, at or before the weigh-in, the written statement of a neurologist stating that the epilepsy or seizure disorder is well-controlled and that in the neurologist’s expert medical opinion, no unusual or extraordinary risk to the participant is anticipated as a result of the epilepsy or seizure disorder;

(m) History of kidney problems, including solitary kidney; provided however, that the applicant shall be permitted to participate in a match if the participant provides, at or before the weigh-in, the written statement of a licensed nephrologist stating that the kidney problem is resolved and that in the nephrologist’s expert medical opinion, no unusual or extraordinary risk to the participant is anticipated as a result of the resolved kidney problem and/or solitary kidney;

(n) History of blood clotting disorders or abnormal bleeding, including hemophilia and Von Willebrand disease; provided however, that the applicant shall be permitted to participate in a match if the participant provides, at or before the weigh-in, the written statement of a hematologist stating that the bleeding problem is well controlled and that in the hematologist’s expert medical opinion, no unusual or extraordinary risk to the participant is anticipated as a result of the bleeding disorder;

(o) Altered gait or balance, or

(p) History of any abnormality in a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan, electroencephalogram (EEG), electrocardiogram (EKG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, or other similar medical tests.

(5) Each participant shall be required to submit to any additional medical examination or test ordered by the executive director or his or her designee, or the commission. Such medical examination or test must be original or a certified copy of the results which were performed by a physician as defined by Section 548.002(18), F.S., or laboratory no earlier than 30 days before the date on which the results are presented to the commission, its executive director or his or her designee.

(6) All participants with cuts and abrasions that require dressing, bandages, or Band-Aids must be approved to fight by the physician prior to being cleared to participate.

(7) Female participants shall not participate if any of the following conditions are identified by the physician during the pre-match physical:

(a) Pelvic disease states such as symptomatic endometriosis;

(b) Abnormal vaginal bleeding;

(c) Recent secondary amenorrhea of undetermined cause;

(d) Recent breast bleeding;

(e) Recently discovered breast masses;

(f) A positive pregnancy test, conducted at the time of the pre-match physical examination.

(8) The pre-match physical examination shall be documented on Form BPR-0009-455, “Participant Information and Medical Sheet,” effective December 2014, adopted and incorporated herein by reference, which may be obtained at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-08098, and which shall be completed by the participant and the physician conducting the weigh-in. Any participant who refuses to complete this form shall not be allowed to engage in any match in Florida.

(9) Participation in subsequent matches:

(a) Any participant who is suspended and issued Form BPR-0009-478, “Order of Automatic Suspension,” effective September 2015, adopted and incorporated herein by reference, which may be obtained at http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-08099, by the executive director, or any similar suspension issued by any other jurisdiction shall not participate until cleared by a physician as defined by Section 548.002(18), F.S. A physician may extend a medical suspension any time he or she believes it to be in the best interest for the safety of a participant. In all cases, the decision by the physician at the pre-match physical to issue or extend a medical suspension is final and not reviewable;

(b) Participants shall receive a mandatory seven-day rest period after competing in a match. Day 1 of the mandatory rest period shall commence on the first day following the event.

(10) No biological male participant shall be allowed to engage in any match against a biologically female participant. A participant’s status as a biological male or biological female is determined by the participant’s sex at birth.

(11) All medical information provided to the commission directly shall not be released to any individual or entity without prior disclosure to the participants and only for the express purpose of determining the ability to participate in a match. Such medical information may be released to physicians or representatives of the commission or the commission office. Participants shall sign Form DBPR FSBC 20, “Pre-Licensure Physical Sheet,” effective September 2015, as a release to permit the commission to release the medical information to the necessary individuals prior to the match for the express purpose of determining fitness to participate in a match.

(12) Participants who have had prior pertinent medical conditions identified by their physician on Form DBPR FSBC 20, “Pre-Licensure Physical Sheet,” September 2015, may not participate in a match until the participant has been cleared by a physician. If the commission office determines that the participant’s health or his or her opponent’s health is at risk due to the preexisting medical condition, the commission office shall refuse to permit the participant to participate. The commission office may request additional medical tests to determine whether a preexisting medical condition is a threat to the participant or his or her opponent.

(13) Whenever a participant is unable due to illness or injuries to take part in a match for which he is under contract, he (or his manager) shall immediately report that fact to the commission, and the participant shall be required to submit to an examination by a physician designated by the commission prior to future participation in matches in the State of Florida.

(14) The executive director or his or her designee shall, on medical advice, require that a referee undergo a physical examination prior to acting as a referee in any match.

(15) If at any time prior to the match, evidence is revealed that indicates that the match may be unusually adverse to the health of a participant or referee, the executive director or his or her designee shall order a medical examination to be given to the participant or referee, the report of which examination shall be made to the executive director or his or her designee.

Rulemaking Authority 548.003, 548.041(1)(c), 548.046(2) FS. Law Implemented 548.006, 548.041(1)(c), 548.046(1), 548.046(2) FS. History–New 4-17-17, 10-24-22.