Contestants must maintain medical clearances from a medical practitioner to be registered and combat sport contests cannot proceed unless an approved ringside medical practitioner is present.
Information for medical practitioners completing certificates of fitness, serology clearances and therapeutic use exemptions.
Information for medical practitioners approved to act as a ringside medical practitioner and expressions of interest to become a ringside medical practitioner.
Information for healthcare practitioners providing concussion clearances and concussion education modules.
The Combat Sports Commission (CSC) regulates combat sports in WA and is a statutory authority under the Combat Sports Act 1987. Contestants must be certified by a medical practitioner as medically and physically fit to compete and ongoing certificate of fitness and serology clearances are required. Medical practitioners clearing contestants must be registered in the medical profession under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (WA) and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
A CoF is only valid for 12 months and requires a serology test. Use the combined CoF Form to provide both clearances (fitness and serology). Please arrange for the athlete to get a blood test , review the results, conduct a medical examination, determine if any proposed weight loss is safe and assess if a therapeutic use exemption is required.
Contestants are subject to anti-doping testing. A TUE permits an athlete to use (for legitimate medical purposes) a substance or method that would otherwise be prohibited in the sport. Refer to the Global Dro website to check if a substance is permitted or prohibited and use the TUE Form if required.
Serology clearances are only valid for 6 months which means contestants require ongoing testing. Use the interim Serology Clearance Form for ongoing testing, when a CoF is not required. Do not send or attach any laboratory blood test results and refer to the Serology Testing Factsheet for testing requirements.
The RMP plays a crucial role and a combat sports bout cannot proceed without an approved medical practitioner being present ringside. Medical practitioners are nominated, engaged and paid by the promoter but must be approved by the CSC to be a RMP. The role of the RMP is conducted over 3 core stages - pre-contest, contest (during each bout) and post-contest.
Within 24 hours before a contest, each athlete must attend a pre-contest medical examination. These should be conducted at the pre-contest weigh-in. The approved medical practitioner must carry out a medical inspection, complete the CSC pre-contest medical form and certify if each athlete is fit to participate or withdrawn from the contest.
The RMP has several legislative duties to fulfil under the Combat Sports Act 1987 and is to provide all necessary medical equipment, other than that provided by the promoter. The RMP may assess contestants between rounds and has the overriding power to stop a bout, at anytime, by sounding an air horn to obtain the referees attention.
The RMP must conduct a medical examination of athletes following each bout. This involves completion of the CSC post-contest medical form and certification in contestant record books. The RMP has the power to issue medical suspensions, order further medical treatment or clear athletes as fit to compete for future contests and sparring.
If you are an AHPRA registered medical practitioner contact us to register your expression of interest to become a ringside medical practitioner.
Complete the ringside medical practitioner induction with a CSC appointee.
Visit the CSC Health, Safety and Integrity webpage and familiarise yourself with combat sports specific content.
Arrange with the CSC to attend a combat sports contest and shadow an approved ringside medical practitioner during the contest bouts and pre/post contest medical examinations.
Complete the online education CSC concussion module.
The CSC encourages ringside medical practitioners to visit the Association of Ringside Physicians website and regularly review medical content unique to combat sports.
Arrange with a registered promoter to be the designated ringside medical practitioner for the promoter's next contest permit.
Contestants may be required to obtain a concussion clearance prior to competing again if medically suspended by a ringside medical practitioner or issued with a Hard Bout Card from a CSC appointee or referee. A healthcare practitioner can assess and provide a concussion clearance for contestants but mandatory return to sport timeframes will still apply. Healthcare practitioners should refer to the CSC Concussion Management Guidelines for full details.
The Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT6) is an internationally recognised and standardised tool designed for use by healthcare practitioners for evaluating concussions.
Use the Graded Return to Sport Framework to guide the athlete through a recovery process and return to sport program.
Athletes must be symptom free for at least 14 days and can't compete in less than 21 days (longer in some cases). Refer to the contestants Hard Bout Card or use the Concussion Assessment and Clearance Form .
Ringside medical practitioners are advised to complete the online CSC Combat Sports Concussion Course (approx. 45 minutes). This course is designed to educate contestants and industry participants on concussion in combat sports and explains the CSC Hard Bout Card and concussion protocols.
The CSC also encourages healthcare practitioners to complete the Australian Sports Commission - Concussion in Sport for Healthcare Practitioners (approx. 120 minutes). This course is designed for AHPRA registered healthcare practitioners to learn about the appropriate assessment, management and treatment of sports-related concussions.
For further medical practitioner information and contest rules please refer to the documents provided below or use these links to view the full listing of CSC:
Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport246 Vincent Street, Leederville WA 6007PO Box 8349, Perth Business Centre WA 6849Telephone 61 8 6552 1604Email combatsport@cits.wa.gov.au