The Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports Athlete’s Voice Committee Call for Warning Labels on Safety Equipment in Combat Sports

(APRIL 10)  The Athlete’s Voice Committee is taking a proactive stance in advocating for the implementation of warning labels on safety equipment used in combat sports. This initiative comes in response to growing concerns about the safety and well-being of athletes, and continued advocacy for education in all corners and disciplines of combat sports. [Link to document]

Combat sports, including but not limited to boxing, mixed martial arts (MMA), and wrestling, involve intense physical contact and pose significant risks to the athletes involved. While safety equipment such as headgear, mouthguards, and gloves are commonly used to mitigate these risks, there is a need for clearer information and guidance regarding their limitations and potential dangers.

The Athlete’s Voice Committee recognizes that traumatic brain injury including concussion and CTE, are serious occupational risks of combative sports. Education is an important aspect of informed participation for all athletes in combative sports. To this end, the committee supports the following initiative.

Every manufacturer of combat sports gloves, shin guards and headgear place a prominent warning on their product that states, at minimum, as follows:

“WARNING – This product does not protect the user nor their training partners from traumatic brain injury, including concussion and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)”

Dr. Charles Bernick, Senior Director of Cognitive Disorders for Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, emphasized the importance of informed decision-making when it comes to athlete safety. "Education is clearly the first step to empower fighters to make appropriate decisions for their training and careers," said Dr. Bernick. "I strongly endorse the recommendation by AVC to require as part of licensing a health and safety education module for both the fighters and their trainers. In addition, information about concussions should be labeled on common equipment used in combat sports such as gloves and headgear." [Link to document]

The Athlete’s Voice Committee invites stakeholders, including athletes, coaches, medical professionals, and industry representatives, to join us in advocating for these critical safety measures. Together, we can work towards creating a safer environment for all participants in combat sports.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

Jon Hollingsworth
Chair, Athlete’s Voice Committee
(803) 521-0161
Jon.hollingsworth@llr.sc.gov

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About The Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC):

The Association of Boxing Commissions is a North American not for profit governmental entity professional boxing and Mixed Martial Arts organization that provides a framework for undertaking boxing and MMA bouts and record keeping. It is made up of members from state and tribal athletic commissions from the United States and Canada and beyond.
The organization was formed in the 1980s when a number of executive directors of various boxing commissions met to discuss how boxing was handled in their jurisdictions. The Professional Boxing Safety Act then endorsed the ABC as the primary organization to help promote the elements of the Act.
The goals of the ABC are to:

Promote uniform health and safety standards in boxing and MMA
Provide accurate records for boxers and mixed martial artists
Increase communication between organizations
Publish medical and training information and education for all boxing and MMA related professionals
Encourage adherence to, and enforcement of, applicable federal laws by each member of the ABC
Select and retain record keeping source for suspension and records

About the Athletes Voice Committee (AVC):

The purpose of this committee is to build a bridge between fighters and regulators and to provide fighters a meaningful opportunity to have a voice in their sport. A two-way platform for fighters to voice their concerns to regulators and equally an opportunity for regulators to create educational opportunities for fighters.

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