BC brings in legislation to regulate kickboxing and mixed martial arts
VICTORIA - The B.C. government has brought in legislation to regulate boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts events.
Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Ida Chong says the bill will establish a provincial athletic commissioner to oversee the sports.
She says kick-boxing and mixed martial arts are very popular but the fights are taking place without any provincial rules.
Chong says her legislation will provide a consistent framework for governing these events across the province, with the focus on ensuring the safety of competitors and officials.
She says the commissioner will have the power to suspend or cancel licenses for such events if they don't meet the regulations and could impose penalties on fight promoters who violate the rules.
Chong says local communities will still have the power to pass by-laws to ban more controversial events like mixed martial arts fights.
