(Image via BC Government’s Flickr Page) There is now official confirmation that BC’s first Athletic Commissioner is Dave Maedel. You can click here to read about his background. Maedel, who recently served as the Chief Sheriff of BC Sheriff Services, is now the first acting BC Athletic Commissioner. With his formal powers coming into force … More There’s a New Sheriff in Town for BC Mixed Martial Arts
This week I had the pleasure of being interviewed by the Jim Harrison Show in Kamloops to discuss BC’s new Athletic Commissioner Act regulating professional boxing and MMA. Jim was kind enough to give me permission to rebroadcast the interview here: For those of you who listen to Jim’s show that are visiting … More Welcome Jim Harrison Show Listeners
The Office of the BC Athletic Commissioner is now open for business. Their website is now live and can be found here. It is very user friendly for anyone looking to get a licence but could use direct links to the Regulations which can be found here.
If you are a fan of combat sports you don’t have to wait for the big show to come to town to see a great live event. There is much more to combat sports than the bright lights of the UFC with local events often producing exciting action and great entertainment. To this end, I … More Support Your Local Combat Sports Community! Check Out the Hurricane Fight League this Friday
I have been vocal in my support that while amending the Criminal Code to allow a legal framework for MMA in Canada is a good thing, Bill S-209 is not without its flaws. Specifically it will make many amateur martial arts contests such as Karate and potentially even wrestling illegal by default unless Provinces act. … More Pat Reid Voices Concerns that Bill S-209 Leaves Other Martial Arts in the Dark
Research indicates that many MMA athletes compete in a “significantly dehydrated” state due to the weight cuts they put themselves through to make their contracted weight. This in turn leads to noted increased injury risks including increased risk of brain trauma. I previously highlighted this issue which led to a good discussion here, and further … More Edmonton Commission Looks into MMA Weight Cut Reform
(Image via Wikimedia) Earlier this week I was pleased to learn that Joel Fingard, the Executive Director of the Manitoba Combative Sports Commission,is among the readers of this blog. Joel asked me whether, in my view, Bill S-209 will have the effect of criminalizing fighting in hockey and other non-combat sports. The short answer is no. I … More Will Bill S-209 Criminalize Fighting in Hockey?
Last month I highlighted the Canadian Medical Association’s vocal opposition to Bill S-209. This, despite the organization admitting “we don’t have a lot of research available yet as to the rate and severity of the injuries” and further that “we don’t know the rates of the injuries …but my argument is any injury is too much”. The lack of substance … More Canadian MP’s Calls Out CMA’s Thin Opposition to Bill S-209
(Cross-Published at the BC Injury Law Blog) ___________________________________________________________________________ In an example that a similar injury can have profoundly different consequences for different people depending on their chosen profession, last year a Vancouver Jury awarded professional boxer Jegbefumere ‘Bone’ Albert just over $1,000,000 following a traumatic hand injury caused in a motor vehicle collision which negatively impacted … More Canadian National Boxing Champions $1,000,000 Hand Injury Case Upheld on Appeal
For those of you not up to speed on the topic, the use of TRT is generally prohibited in sanctioned MMA as the use of testosterone replacement agents runs afoul of anti-doping regulations. There is a concern, however, that athletes are abusing a Therapeutic Use Exemption, and getting around this prohibition to gain an unfair advantage. In Canada and the US, regulated … More Can the UFC Outright Ban TRT?
Combat Sports Law 