201 KAR 27:012. Wrestling requirements.

201 KAR 27:012. Wrestling show requirements.

RELATES TO: KRS 229.021, 229.071(1), 229.081, 229.091, 229.101, 229.131, 229.171(1), 229.180(1)

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 229.180(1)

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 229.171 authorizes the authority to provide the sole direction, management, control, and jurisdiction over all professional boxing, sparring, and wrestling matches or exhibitions to be conducted, held or given within the Commonwealth. KRS 229.180(1) authorizes the authority to promulgate regulations necessary or expedient for the performance of its regulatory function. KRS 229.071(2) authorizes the authority to grant annual licenses to applicants for participation in professional matches if the authority judges that the financial responsibility, experience, character, and general fitness of the applicant are such that participation by the applicant is in the public interest. KRS 229.091(1) provides that every licensee shall be subject to the administrative regulations promulgated by the authority. This administrative regulation establishes the requirements for wrestling shows and for participants in wrestling matches.

Section 1. The authority shall license all persons approved to participate in wrestling. All licenses shall expire on December 31 of the year in which they are issued.

Section 2. An applicant for a wrestling license shall complete and submit to the authority the form, "Application for License as a Wrestler", (2/06). An applicant desiring to renew a wrestling license shall complete and submit to the authority the form, "Application for Renewal of License as a Wrestler", (2/06). An applicant for a wrestling event staff or referee license shall complete and submit to the authority the form, "Application for License as a Wrestling Official", (2/06). A copy of the applicant’s picture ID or birth certificate shall be submitted with any new application.

Section 3. The license fee for each participant shall be as follows:

(1) Event staff: twenty (20) dollars

(2) Referee: twenty (20) dollars

(3) Wrestler: twenty (20) dollars

(4) A wrestler certificate may be purchased for an additional ten (10) dollars.

Section 4. Requirements for the wrestling ring and the immediately surrounding area.

(1) All matches shall be held in a four (4) sided roped ring with the following specifications:

(a) The minimum ring size shall be fourteen (14) feet by fourteen (14) feet;

(b) The floor of the ring shall extend beyond the ropes for a distance of not less than one (1) foot;

(d) It may have steps to enter the ring on two (2) sides.

(2) The ring shall be formed of ropes with the following specifications:

(a) There shall be three (3) ropes extended in a triple line;

(b) The ropes shall be at least one (1) inch in diameter; and

(3) The ropes shall be supported by ring posts that shall be:

(a) Made of metal or other strong material;

(b) Not less than three (3) inches in diameter; and

(4) The ring floor shall be padded or cushioned with a clean, soft material that:

(a) Is at least one (1) inch in thickness;

(b) Extends over the edge of the platform;

(d) Is clean, sanitary, and free from:

1. Grit;

2. Dirt;

3. Resin;

4. Blood; and

5. Any other foreign object or substance.

(5) The ring rope shall be attached to the ring posts by turnbuckles that are padded with a soft pad at least six (6) inches in width.

(6) The ring shall have an area of at least six (6) feet between the edge of the ring floor and the first row of spectator seats on all sides of the ring.

(7) A partition, barricade, or some type of divider shall be placed:

(a) Between the first row of the spectator seats and the six (6) foot area surrounding the ring; and

(b) On both sides of the entry lane for wrestlers to enter the ring and the spectator area or, if an entry lane is not practical, all wrestlers shall be escorted to the rind by security.

Section 5. The promoter may request an alternate ring design consisting of more than four (4) equal sides provided that the square feet is not less than 196 square feet inside. This request shall be submitted in writing to the authority for approval no less than thirty (30) days before the show.

Section 6. (1) Before the beginning of a wrestling show, all changes or substitutions in the advertised program of wrestling shall be posted at the ticket window and at the entrance to the facility

(2) Changes or substitutions shall also be announced in the ring before commencement of the first match along with the information that any ticket holder desiring a refund based on those announced changes or substitutions shall be entitled to receive a refund before commencement of the program.

(3) Purchasers of tickets shall be entitled, upon request by them, to a refund of the purchase price of the tickets, if the request is made before the commencement of the first match.

Section 7.. (1) A licensed wrestler who has made a commitment to participate in a professional match and is unable to participate, for any reason, shall notify the promoter of the inability to participate as soon as possible.

(2) Failure to notify the promoter in a timely manner may constitute grounds for possible disciplinary action by the authority.

Section 8. While participating in a professional match, a wrestler, referee, promoter or wrestling event staff shall not:

(1) Use, or direct another person to use, any object or tactic to intentionally cut:

(a) Himself;

(b) An opponent; or

(2) Use any pyrotechnic during the show on:

(a) Another wrestler;

(b) The referee; or

(3) Bleed while participating in an exhibition or appearing at the site of a show.

(4) An object shall not be used during a wrestling show that may cause a person to bleed.

(5) A physical or verbal threat of aggression shall not be directed toward any member of the audience.

Section 9. In the event that a scheduled show involves a match where blood capsules are to be used or wrestling is to take place in a substance, the promoter shall inform the authority no less than three (3) business days before the match.

Section 10.. Any violation of this or any other administrative regulation that results in injury to a contestant, participant or member of the audience may result in suspension, fine, or revocation of a license, at the discretion of the authority.

Section 11. All wrestling or entertainment shall take place either in the ring or within the partitioned-off portion of the gym or arena. Physical activity shall not be permitted between wrestlers, referee, or wrestling event staff in the audience or outside of the safety partition.

Section 12. All promoters shall safeguard and provide a minimum of two (2) security guards for the premises where contests or exhibitions are conducted to insure to the satisfaction of the authority that adequate protection against disorderly conduct has been provided. Any disorderly act, assault or breach of decorum on the part of any licensee at the premises is prohibited.

Section 13. (1) The promoter shall submit a request for a show date no less than five (5) calendar days before the requested date for approval by the authority.

(2) The request shall be made by completing and submitting to the authority the form, "Wrestling Show Notice Form", (2/06).

(3) There shall be no advertising of the event prior to approval.

(4) Upon approval by the authority, all advertisements shall include the promoter’s license number.

Section 14. Within twenty-four (24) hours of the conclusion of the wrestling show, the promoter shall, pursuant to KRS 229.031(1), complete and submit to the authority the form, "Wrestling Event Report", (2/06).

Section 15. The authority may at any time request a contestant to submit to a drug test at the contestant’s expense. The presence within a contestant of controlled substances, for which the contestant does not have a prescription, or refusal by the contestant to submit to the test, may result in suspension, fine, or revocation of a license at the discretion of the authority.

Section 16. Incorporation by Reference. (1) The following material is incorporated by reference:

(a) "Application for License as a Wrestler", (5/06);

(b) "Application for Renewal of License as a Wrestler", (5/06);

(d) "Wrestling Show Notice Form", (5/06); and

(e) "Wrestling Event Report", (5/06).

(2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority office at 100 Airport Road, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (19 Ky.R. 1936; Am. 20 Ky.R. 60; eff. 6-11-93; 26 Ky.R. 2006; 27 Ky.R. 479; eff. 8-14-2000; 32 Ky.R. 1750; 2254; eff. 7-7-06.)