Combative Sports Act, 2019

ONTARIO REGULATION 565/24

RULES FOR COMBATIVE SPORTS

Historical version for the period January 1, 2025 to January 15, 2025.

No amendments.

This is the English version of a bilingual regulation.

CONTENTS

 

Rules for professional combative sports

1. The conduct of professional combative sport contests and exhibitions is subject to the rules set out in the following documents, published by the Ministry on a website of the Government of Ontario, as they may be amended from time to time:

1. For boxing, version 1 of the document titled “Boxing Professional Combative Sport Rules”.

2. For kickboxing, also known as boxing with hands and feet, version 1 of the document titled “Kickboxing (Boxing with Hands and Feet) Professional Combative Sport Rules”.

3. For kickboxing, also known as boxing with hands and feet, low kick discipline, version 1 of the document titled “Kickboxing (Boxing with Hands and Feet) – Low Kick Discipline Professional Combative Sport Rules”.

4. For mixed martial arts, version 1 of the document titled “Mixed Martial Arts Professional Combative Sport Rules”.

Rules for amateur combative sports

2. (1) The conduct of amateur combative sport contests and exhibitions is subject to the rules set out in the following documents, published by the Ministry on a website of the Government of Ontario, as they may be amended from time to time:

1. For boxing, version 1 of the document titled “Boxing Amateur Combative Sport Rules”.

2. For contact jiu jitsu, version 1 of the document titled “Contact Jiu Jitsu Amateur Combative Sport Rules”.

3. For contact jiu jitsu – head impact free, version 1 of the document titled “Contact Jiu Jitsu – Head Impact Free Amateur Combative Sport Rules”.

4. For grappling, version 1 of the document titled “Grappling Amateur Combative Sport Rules”.

5. For jiu jitsu fighting system (point jiu jitsu), version 1 of the document titled “Jiu Jitsu Fighting System (Point Jiu Jitsu) Amateur Combative Sport Rules”.

6. For judo - shiai, version 1 of the document titled “Judo – Shiai Amateur Combative Sport Rules”.

7. For karate, version 1 of the document titled “Karate Amateur Combative Sport Rules”.

8. For kickboxing, also known as boxing with hands and feet, ring sport disciplines, version 1 of the document titled “Kickboxing (Boxing with Hands and Feet) – Ring Sport Disciplines Amateur Combative Sport Rules”.

9. For kickboxing, also known as boxing with hands and feet, kick light and light contact disciplines, version 1 of the document titled “Kickboxing (Boxing with Hands and Feet) – Kick Light and Light Contact Disciplines Amateur Combative Sport Rules”.

10. For mixed martial arts, version 1 of the document titled “Mixed Martial Arts Amateur Combative Sport Rules”.

11. For muay thai – ring sport disciplines, version 1 of the document titled “Muay Thai – Ring Sport Disciplines Amateur Combative Sport Rules”.

12. For pankration, version 1 of the document titled “Pankration Amateur Combative Sport Rules”.

13. For taekwondo - kyorugi, version 1 of the document titled “Taekwondo – Kyorugi Amateur Combative Sport Rules”.

14. For wrestling, the following document, as applicable:

i. For a wrestling contest or exhibition held as part of the curriculum or extra-curricular programming of a school or private school within the meaning of the Education Act, version 1 of the document titled “Wrestling – Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) Amateur Combative Sport Rules”.

ii. For a wrestling contest or exhibition held as part of the curriculum or extra-curricular programming of a university or college, version 1 of the document titled “Wrestling – Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Amateur Combative Sport Rules”.

iii. For a wrestling contest or exhibition not referred to in subparagraph i or ii, version 1 of the document titled “Wrestling Amateur Combative Sport Rules”.

15. For wushu - sanda, version 1 of the document titled “Wushu – Sanda Amateur Combative Sport Rules”.

(2) A person who wishes to promote, conduct or hold an amateur combative sport contest or exhibition involving a combative sport for which no rules have been prescribed shall submit an application in a form acceptable to the Minister at least 120 days before the contest or exhibition is to commence proposing rules to be used at the contest or exhibition, and the Minister may approve the use of those rules for that purpose.

Exemptions from application of prescribed rules

3. (1) The person or entity referred to in subsection (2) may request that the Minister approve modifications in the application of the rules prescribed under section 1 or 2 that apply to a professional or amateur combative sport contest or exhibition by submitting a request in a form acceptable to the Minister at least 120 days before the contest or exhibition is to commence, specifying the proposed modifications and the reasons for the request.

(2) A request under subsection (1) shall be made by a person who intends to promote, conduct or hold the contest or exhibition or, if the contest or exhibition is to be held only with the permission of a Ministry-recognized provincial sport organization, by the organization on behalf of such a person.

(3) The Minister may approve modifications proposed in accordance with subsection (1), with or without such changes as the Minister may specify, if the Minister is satisfied that,

(a) the particulars of the contest or exhibition warrant modification in the application of the applicable prescribed rules; and

(b) the modifications are appropriate in the circumstances.

(4) For the purposes of making a determination under clause (3) (b), the Minister shall consider,

(a) the level of safety that the rules would provide to contestants if the modifications were approved;

(b) the extent to which the proposed modifications align with any rules or guidelines developed for the combative sport by a Canadian National Sport Organization or an international sports federation that is generally regarded as the governing body for the combative sport, as applicable; and

(c) whether the proposed modifications would result in rules that are so significantly different from the prescribed rules as to result in the alteration of the combative sport into a different sport. 

(5) For greater certainty, a reference in this section to a modification includes reference to an exemption.

Appeals of official result

4. (1) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), a licensee may appeal the official result of a professional combative sport contest or exhibition by filing a written request to the Commissioner to review the result of the bout.

(2) The written request must,

(a) set out all relevant facts;

(b) specify what decision is the basis for the appeal; and

(c) indicate what final order is sought.

(3) A licensee may not appeal a decision of a referee unless, in the written request, the licensee alleges facts which, if true, would demonstrate one or more of the following:

1. Collusion between the referee and a third party that has affected the result of the bout.

2. That the referee has rendered an incorrect decision as a result of an error in interpreting rules and regulations.

3. That the referee has committed a plain error and a failure to overturn the decision would result in a manifest injustice.

(4) A licensee may not appeal a decision of a physician present at the contest or exhibition, a judge or a timekeeper unless, in the written request, the licensee alleges facts which, if true, would demonstrate collusion between the official and a third party that has affected the result of the bout.

(5) The written request must be received by the Commissioner no later than 10 days after the decision that is the basis for the appeal is rendered.

(6) The Commissioner shall notify all parties involved that a written request for appeal has been filed.

(7) Any decision that is being appealed shall remain in effect, pending the final order issued by the Commissioner.

(8) The Commissioner shall review each request thoroughly to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to overturn the official result of the bout.

(9) No later than 30 days after receiving the written request, the Commissioner shall issue a final order.

(10) The Commissioner shall notify all parties involved of the outcome of the appeal.

5. Omitted (provides for coming into force of provisions of this Regulation).