Minimum safety standards for all combative sports matches and exhibitions held within the State
Compiled source label: current through Apr 15, 2022
Register checked through July 8, 2026/Vol. XLVIII, Issue 27 (2026-07-08) - no later Register activity found for this section
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- Compiled source current through
- Apr 15, 2022
- Register checked through
- July 8, 2026/Vol. XLVIII, Issue 27 (2026-07-08)
- Register activity status
- no later Register activity found
- LawEngine source snapshot
- Jun 6, 2026
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 bloodwork 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 $10,000 for injuries sustained in the match or exhibition, and coverage for payment of a death benefit of $10,000 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 of this Part, 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 this Title 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 $50,000 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 $50,000 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.
(e)As used in this section,
physician shall mean a practitioner of medicine licensed in New York State to practice medicine pursuant to article 131 of the Education Law.