Update May 21, 2019– On Second Reading some of the below text of the Bill has been overhauled. The general substance of the below article remains accurate but for those following this legal development reference should be made to the overhauled language of Bill 100. ________________________________________________________ Last month the Ontario Government’s budget announced plans to … More Ontario Reveals New Combat Sports Act
From deferring to promoters regarding drug testing to documented regulatory safety concerns Ontario combat sports regulation holds room for improvement. The Provincial Government’s 2019 budget suggests changes are coming. While the details of the legal changes are not entirely clear the budget notes overhaul is contemplated for both amateur and professional combat sports. The budget … More Ontario Budget Suggests “Wider Range” of Combat Sports Are Coming
Last year the Ontario government exercised their powers under section 83 of Canada’s Criminal Code by having amateur combat sports organized by Provincially recognized sporting organizations (PSO’s). At the time the Government set out the following list of amateur combative sports that could be legal so long as a PSO was designated to regulate them: … More Ontario Designates Provincial Sporting Organization for Amateur Jiu-Jitsu in the Province
For years Ontario has ignored section 83 of the Criminal Code creating confusion as to the legality of various combative sports. At long last this has changed with Ontario passing Order in Council 1087-2017 designating exactly which amateur sports are legal and how they are to be governed. In short, Ontario has designated that the … More Ontario Legalizes Muay Thai, Kickboxing and Host of Amateur Combat Sports
Update November 29, 2016 – It is being reported that the NYSAC is prepared to waive the suspension in lieu of a fine thus clearing the way for Gastelum to be licenced in Ontario assuming prompt payment of the of the fine. __________________________________ Update – Shortly after publishing this article Gastelum replied with the following … More Legal Hurdles To Licence Kelvin Gastelum for UFC 206
After the largely popular early weigh ins conducted in California at UFC 199 MMAFighting.com’s Marc Raimondi, who has been perhaps the most consistent reporter addressing rapid extreme weight cut issues in the sport, advises that the same protocols will be used for UFC Fight Night 89 this week in Ottawa, Canada. Raimondi reports as follows: … More Ontario Adopts California Style Early Weigh Ins For UFC Fight Night 89
In the aftermath of an April 12, 2016 knockout loss by Mexican fighter Guillermo Herrera, who remains in a Canadian hospital dealing with the aftermath of a ruptured blood vessel in his brain, the World Boxing Counsel has issued a press release indicating they will no longer sanction bouts in Ontario, Canada citing safety concerns with … More WBC Boycotts Ontario – Sites Safety Concerns With Athletic Commission
The Province of Ontario has been one of the slowest in Canada to respond to their Criminal Code powers to legalize amateur mixed martial arts and other combat sports. As previously discussed, Ontario’s response to date has been silence making amateur MMA along with a host of other combative sports technically illegal in the Province. Last … More Ontario Pledges To “Clarify The Legal Status of Amateur Combative Sport”
Lost in this week’s story by Josh Gross discussing the UFC’s role in mixed martial arts ‘TRT era’ is the important parallel story that doping is 100% legal under Ontario’s combat sports regulations. Combat sports regulation in Ontario is filled with problems such as the government turning a blind eye to amateur MMA which is illegal … More Just a Friendly Reminder that Ontario Turns a Blind Eye to Doping in Combat Sports
Since last year I have been pressing Ontario for answers about if or when they will exercise their section 83 Criminal Code powers to legalize amateur MMA and other non-Olympic combat sports. Ontario has finally provided a substantive reply and the Province advises that they plan on legalizing amateur MMA along with many other combat sports. … More Breaking News – Ontario Proposes to Legalize Amateur MMA
Combat Sports Law 