New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 19 - DEPARTMENT OF STATE › Chapter VII - State Athletic Commission › Part 208 - Special Rules for Health, Safety and Integrity in Combative Sports › Section 208.16 - Minimum safety standards for all combative sports matches and exhibitions held within the state

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
No person may arrange, promote, organize, produce, or hold a
				  combative sports match or exhibition within the state of New York without
				  meeting each of the following minimum requirements for the health and safety of
				  participants:
(a) prior to any match
				or exhibition, each combatant must have and submit an annual physical
				examination performed by a physician, including laboratory blood work
				demonstrating negative test results for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV),
				Hepatitis B (HBsAg) and Hepatitis C. In addition, a pre-match physical
				examination of each combatant must be conducted prior to the start of each
				match and within 36 hours of each match by a physician, and the physician must
				certify upon the conclusion of the examination that it is the professional
				medical opinion of the examining physician that the combatant is medically fit
				to safely compete in the combative sport match or exhibition;
(b) at least one ambulance with medical
				personnel consisting of at least one paramedic with appropriate resuscitation
				equipment must be continuously present, and no match or exhibition may proceed
				unless such ambulance and paramedic are available and on site;
(c) at least one physician must be
				continuously present at ringside during any match or exhibition, and a
				post-match medical evaluation of each combatant shall be conducted by an
				on-site physician immediately following the match; and
(d)
(1) for
				authorized amateur combative sports matches and exhibitions, the promoter must
				provide accident insurance coverage for each amateur combatant covering
				medical, surgical and hospital care, with a minimum limit of ten thousand
				dollars for injuries sustained in the match or exhibition, and coverage for
				payment of a death benefit of ten thousand dollars payable to the estate of the
				amateur combatant for death occasioned by injuries sustained in the match or
				exhibition;
(2) for authorized
				professional combative sports matches and exhibitions, except as otherwise
				provided in section
				208.15 above, the promoter or
				organizer of an authorized professional combative sports match or exhibition
				conducted under the oversight of an authorized sanctioning entity provided for
				pursuant to Part 214 of these rules must provide the following accident
				insurance coverage to all professional combatants participating in any match,
				exhibition, or bout in this state promoted by or held under the control of such
				promoter or organizer:
(i) coverage for
				medical, surgical and hospital care, with a minimum limit of fifty thousand
				dollars for injuries sustained while participating in any program operated
				under the promotion or control of such promoter or organizer; and
(ii) coverage for payment of a death benefit
				of fifty thousand dollars payable to the estate of the professional combatant
				for death occasioned by injuries received during the course of a program in
				this state in which such professional participated under the promotion or
				control of the promoter or organizer;
(3) All such accident insurance as required
				herein shall, up to the maximum limits of the policy:
(i) provide coverage for all medically
				necessary care and treatment for covered injuries; and
(ii) provide benefits on an expense incurred
				basis. Such coverage may be primary or secondary to any other applicable
				insurance coverage held by the covered professional.