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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>76867</law_id><section_number>54.1-829</section_number><catch_line>Authorization from Director required; bond; physical examination; emergency medical services vehicles; physician; health insurance</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Professions and Occupations Regulated by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and Boards Within the Department</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="8.1">Boxing and Wrestling Events</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> No <span class="dictionary">person</span> shall act as a <span class="dictionary">promoter</span>, <span class="dictionary">matchmaker</span>, trainer, <span class="dictionary">boxer</span>, <span class="dictionary">martial artist</span>, or <span class="dictionary">professional wrestler</span> in the Commonwealth without first having obtained authorization for such activity from the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> or <span class="dictionary">sanctioning organization</span> approved by the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Sanctioning organization; amateur martial arts events" href="/54.1-829.1/">54.1-829.1</a> and such authorization remains in full force and effect. <a id="paragraph-275934" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-829/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> No authorization to act as a <span class="dictionary">promoter</span> shall be granted unless the applicant executes and files with the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> a <span class="dictionary">bond</span>, in such <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> as the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall determine through regulation, conditioned on the payment of the fees and penalties imposed by this chapter and for the fulfillment of <span class="dictionary">contracts</span> made with professional contestants in accordance with <span class="dictionary">Department</span> regulations. This subsection shall not apply to a <span class="dictionary">promoter</span> applying to conduct an <span class="dictionary">amateur</span>-only <span class="dictionary">event</span> under the authority of a <span class="dictionary">sanctioning organization</span> approved by the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Sanctioning organization; amateur martial arts events" href="/54.1-829.1/">54.1-829.1</a>. <a id="paragraph-275935" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-829/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Each <span class="dictionary">boxer</span> and <span class="dictionary">martial artist</span> shall, and each <span class="dictionary">professional wrestler</span> may, be examined prior to entering the ring by a physician who has held a license to practice medicine for at least three years in any <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of the United States and who is currently licensed to practice medicine in the Commonwealth. The physician shall be approved by the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> and shall certify in writing that the contestant&#x2019;s physical condition is such that he is physically able to engage in the contest. <a id="paragraph-275936" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-829/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> No <span class="dictionary">event</span> in which <span class="dictionary">boxers</span> or <span class="dictionary">martial artists</span> are contestants shall be conducted without the continuous presence at ringside of a physician who has held a license to practice medicine for at least three years in any <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of the United States and who is currently licensed to practice medicine in the Commonwealth, and unless an emergency medical services vehicle is at the site of the <span class="dictionary">event</span>. <a id="paragraph-275937" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-829/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> No <span class="dictionary">boxer</span> or <span class="dictionary">martial artist</span> shall participate in any <span class="dictionary">event</span> unless covered by a health insurance policy with minimum coverage in an amount determined by <span class="dictionary">Department</span> regulation. <a id="paragraph-275938" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-829/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1998, c. 895; 2007, c. 853; 2015, cc. 216, 264, 502, 503; 2016, c. 756; 2025, cc. 95, 111.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
