I am not a professional combatant, I am not a promoter and I am not a government regulator. Despite this I go on and on about the need of Provinces like Ontario and Quebec to pass appropriate laws to legalize amateur MMA instead of turning a blind eye, and here I go again. Why? Because … More Why Technicalities Matter – Criminal Conduct Exclusions and Insurance in MMA
I have previously highlighted why there is no proper framework for amateur MMA in Ontario and until appropriate post Bill S-209 laws are passed amateur MMA events cannot comply with section 83 of the Criminal Code. Despite this it appears that some amateur Combat Sports events are taking place without government repercussions. Pecker’d Promotions discusses … More Is Ontario Selectively Prosecuting MMA Events?
I am honoured to receive the 2013 Canadian Law Blog Award naming this site as one of the Best New Law Blogs of the year. Thank you to everyone who nominated this site, to Steve Matthews, Simon Fodden and Jordan Furlong for the award, and to everyone who has visited in 2013. So how do you celebrate an award as … More Canadian MMA Law Recognized As “Best New Law Blog” in 2013
Ever wonder where the most MMA events take place? Data was recently compiled addressing the volume of sanctioned amateur and professional events in the US and Canada from 2009-2012. California wins by a landslide with 154 sanctioned events in 2012 alone. Texas comes in second with 83 and Nevada ranked fifth overall in volume in … More Where’s the MMA At? Busiest US and Canadian Athletic Commissions Revealed
Few topics generate more debate when it comes to MMA regulation than licencing of transgender athletes. Ultimately this is a debate that is best addressed through science as the most valid criticisms focus on the health and safety of participants. To this end, the Association of Boxing Commissions Medical Committee (comprised of some 40 … More ABC Medical Committee Addresses Safety of Transgender Combatant Licencing
Earlier this year I canvassed the possibility of obtaining Therapeutic Use Exemptions for medical marijuana users licensed to compete in combat sports. The Association of Boxing Commissions Medical Committee has now addressed this issue, noting that “there are no good data at present to suggest that marijuana acts directly as a performance-enhancing drug” and confirmed … More More on Medical Marijuana TUE’s in Combat Sports
C.T.E. (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) is a progressive degenerative disease which is linked to combat and other contact sports such as hockey and football. When an athlete experiences too many concussive or sub concussive shots over the course of a career they are at risk of developing CTE which can have profound consequences later in life. … More How Much Head Trauma is Too Much in a Combat Sports Career?
I’ve previously discussed some of the biggest legal threats to MMA with PED abuse and inadequate policies addressing this being one of them. I’ll confess that when a lawyer talks about the law, especially in a hypothetical situation, it can be a little dry. Enter Ben Miller. Last week Ben authored an article at the … More What the PED Lawsuit Will Look Like in MMA
Adding to this site’s archives addressing combat sports prosecutions in Canada, useful reasons for judgement were recently shared with me addressing charges under the Ontario Athletics Control Act dealing with an amateur kickboxing event. In the unreported 2010 case (Her Majesty the Queen v. McNamara) the Defendants held two kickboxing bouts and were charged with … More One More From the Vault – Amateur Combat Sports Outside of OAC Jurisdiction
Prosecutions under section 83 of the Criminal Code are few and far between and published reasons for judgement addressing such prosecutions are even more scarce. Recently unpublished reasons for judgement were shared with me addressing proceedings on a guilty plea during a section 83 prosecution in Ontario in 2003. I highlight these here for the … More One From The Vault – Transcript from “Prizefighting” Guilty Plea Sentencing
Combat Sports Law 