Boxing and Martial Arts

Professional or public boxing and martial arts events in South Australia are regulated by the Boxing and Martial Arts Act 2000 (the Act) which is specific to South Australia.

The Act promotes the safety of contestants and places obligations on promoters, medical practitioners, contestants and trainers for this purpose, including the requirement for a medical clearance for contestants.

All professional or public boxing or martial arts events are conducted according to rules approved under the Act.

Promoters of a professional or public boxing or martial arts event are required to be licensed.

When applying for a promoter’s licence, the applicant(s) will need to supply:

Certified proof of identification
Payment of fee - $495.00 from 1 July 2023 (subject to CPI)
A National Criminal History Check
Working with Children Check
A statement of experience including a business plan overview and forecast budget for promotions.

If the applicant is a corporate body additional information will be required.

If you are interested in applying for a promoter’s licence, you are encouraged to contact the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing for advice as to what may be involved and the licensing process.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION + CERT OF FITNESS | ONLINE APPLICATION FORM

Contestants in a professional or public boxing or martial arts event are required to be registered.

Registration and renewal of registration

Before a person can apply for registration, or renewal of registration, they will need to obtain a Certificate of Fitness to participate in boxing or martial arts events.

This will require at least two visits to a medical practitioner.

Firstly, an appointment will be required to be referred for:

Serology testing – Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C
Medical imaging – MRI scan of the head

Once both the blood tests and MRI are complete and your referring medical practitioner has considered the results, at the second appointment your medical practitioner will complete a full medical examination and, if appropriate, issue a Certificate of Fitness.

Medical examination form + Certificate of Fitness

The Certificate of Fitness forms part of the contestant application process.

The application needs to be lodged no more than 14 days after gaining your Certificate of Fitness (refer to the date your medical practitioner has signed and dated the Certificate).

When making an application for registration or renewal of registration, you will need to provide:

Certified proof of identification - meaning your driver’s licence needs to be certified: “This is a true copy of the original document” with the certifier’s signature, printed name, position and employer and date of certification. This can be certified by a Justice of the Peace (JP), lawyer, teacher, medical practitioner, Commonwealth or State Government employee, or an employee of Australia Post.
Payment of fee - $123.00 from 1 July 2023 (subject to CPI)
Certificate of Fitness - please note the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing will not accept copies of a contestant’s medical records which contain sensitive information such as blood test results, MRI reports or completed medical examination notes. Please use the medical examination and certificate of fitness from above and return ONLY PAGE 7.

The contestant application is to be completed online.

Each time you are on the fight card of an event, the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing will confirm your registration status with the promoter. To keep your registration up-to-date you will need:

Serology results less than six months old as at date of event.
A full medical examination conducted less than one year prior to the date of event.

ORSR resource videos

Concussion in Combat Sports

Weight Cutting in Combat Sports

International Contestants

If an international contestant is not registered with a recognised authority in any other Australian State or Territory, they must complete the contestant registration process prior to competing.

A Certificate of Fitness (as per the above registration requirements) must be obtained and signed off by a doctor registered with the Medical Board of Australia to participate in a boxing or martial arts event.

Medical records

Please note the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing will not accept copies of a contestant’s medical records which contain sensitive information such as blood test results, MRI reports or completed medical examination notes. Please use the medical examination and certificate of fitness from above.

Trainers are encouraged to register in South Australia, however it is not mandatory.

Trainers seeking to accompany a contestant to events held interstate may be required to be registered according to interstate rules and/or legislation.

When applying for trainer registration, the applicant will need to provide:

Certified proof of identity
Payment of fee - $61.50 from 1 July 2023 (subject to CPI)
Working with Children Check
Apply First Aid and CPR certification
A statement of experience
National Police Check

The trainer application is to be completed online.

It is important for trainers to maintain their First Aid and CPR certification and the Working with Children Check to remain registered.

Persons registered as trainers may without limiting any other Act or law, or the rules applicable to the conduct of a professional or public boxing or martial art event, do any or all of the following:

Enter the ring in which a professional or public boxing or martial art event is occurring during breaks in the event.
Provide medical or other direct support to a contestant in a professional or public boxing or martial art event during breaks in the event.
Stop or suspend a professional or public boxing or martial art event on behalf of a contestant in the event.

The purpose of a medical examination of persons wishing to register as a contestant under the Boxing and Martial Arts Act 2000 is to minimise the risks of participation in boxing and martial arts.

Contestants in a professional or public boxing or martial arts event are required to be registered.

Before a person can apply for registration, or renewal of registration, they need to obtain a Certificate of Fitness from a medical practitioner.

The Act requires the medical practitioner to have regard to the following prior to issuing a Certificate of Fitness:

Medical history and results of medical examination.
Serology report prepared within the six (6) months immediately preceding the examination stating whether or not the person has Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.
An MRI scan of the person’s head performed within the three (3) years immediately preceding the examination.
Information relating to any boxing or martial arts contests in which the contestant has taken part.

The Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing does not require details of the examination undertaken or medical test results obtained and the confidentiality of this information should be maintained between the Medical Practitioner and contestant.

Medical examination form + Certificate of Fitness

Serology

MRI

An annual medical examination is an industry standard, not a legislative requirement in South Australia. Where a contestant presents for an annual medical examination, the medical practitioner should complete the Medical Examination + Certificate of Fitness form and issue a Certificate of Fitness, if appropriate.

The Minister has established a Boxing and Martial Arts Advisory Committee comprising of individuals from the boxing, martial arts, legal and medical professions to advise the Minister on issues relating to the administration of the Act.

Terms of Reference

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