Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation— State Athletic Commission

20-27.82. Disciplinary Action. Any person or entity required by law to be licensed by this Commission shall be subject to disciplinary action for any violation of these regulations or order of the Commission. Upon the hearing and its determination of just cause existing, the Comm…

20-28.01. Code of Ethics. A. Contestants in Combative Sports. 1. Contestants will conduct themselves in accordance with commonly accepted standards of decency and social convention. 2. Contestants will strive toward the ideals of ethics and sportsmanship. 3. Contestants will cond…

20-3.1. Ring Floor Material. Every ring used for boxing shall be equipped with a one (1) inch layer of Celotex Building Board Number 2 or a similar approved substance. Said application shall be between the floor of the ring and the canvas-covered padding. HISTORY: Amended by Stat…

20-3.10. Vision. No license shall be issued to any applicant for a boxer’s license whose vision is so poor as to cause any examining physician to recommend that no license be granted. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 10, Issue No. 6, eff June 27, 1986; State Register Vol…

20-3.11. Head Injury. A boxer’s license may be denied to a boxer who has suffered cerebral hemorrhage or any other serious head or jaw injury. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 10, Issue No. 6, eff June 27, 1986; State Register Volume 12, Issue No. 6, eff June 24, 1988; S…

20-3.12. Abdominal Guard. All boxers must wear a foul-proof abdominal guard and cup which shall be examined and approved before all bouts by the Commission Representative. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 10, Issue No. 6, eff June 27, 1986; State Register Volume 12, Issu…

20-3.13. Submission of Boxer’s Record. A boxer is required to submit to the Commission a true record of his/her performances. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 10, Issue No. 6, eff June 27, 1986; State Register Volume 12, Issue No. 6, eff June 24, 1988; State Register Vol…

20-3.14. Refreshment Containers. Refreshments, drinks and food may be sold at any regulated event. It is at the discretion and mutual understanding between the promoter and the venue owner to regulate the distribution of such refreshments. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volum…

20-3.15. Examinations. The Commission or Commission Representative may order an examination of boxers at any time for the purpose of determining whether such boxers are fit and qualified to engage in future matches or exhibitions. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 10, Iss…

20-3.16. Maintaining Order. Every promoter holding a permit to conduct a boxing match shall provide for suitable security, with at least one (1) commissioned police officer and based on the seating capacity for that particular event. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 10, …

20-3.17. Boxer’s Record; Suspension. 1. A boxer who sustains a succession of six (6) defeats or a series of knockouts or technical knockouts in any state or jurisdiction may be subject to licensure denial or suspension. 2. If a boxer is medically suspended in any other state, suc…

20-3.18. Determination of Physical Circumstances. The Commission’s policy is that a referee’s competency is accepted, but the referee shall, at all times, avail himself/herself of the trained and expert judgment of a physician’s greater knowledge of a boxer’s well-being; and he/s…

20-3.19. Physician’s Recommendations. Physicians approved by the Commission are required to file recommendations on all boxers who reveal inadequate ability for further competition due to medically related concerns. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 10, Issue No. 6, eff J…

20-3.2. Ring Padding. Ring padding shall be at a thickness approved by the Commission Representative and shall be covered by a clean, unbroken canvas. Padding shall be periodically checked to guard against loss of effectiveness through constant use. HISTORY: Amended by State Regi…

20-3.20. Examination and Suspension after Knockout. (A) Sixty (60) day suspension for a knockout ‘‘KO’’. (B) Thirty (30) day suspension for a technical knockout ‘‘TKO’’. (C) The Commission may require the contestant to submit a neurological examination by a neurologist, a CAT sca…

20-3.3. Ring Aprons. Ring aprons which extend beyond the ropes must be properly padded and shall have Celotex Building Board Number 2 or similar substance approved by the Commission Representative between the padding and the floor. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 20, Is…

20-3.4. Ropes, Tops of Ring Posts. 1. Steps leading into the ring shall be in diagonally opposite corners of the ring. 2. A ring stool shall be made available for each corner. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 39, Issue No. 6, Doc. No. 4536, eff June 26, 2015.

20-3.5. Emergency Equipment and Medical Personnel. The promoter shall arrange for and provide, in addition to a ring side physician, emergency medical equipment and a certified EMT attendant to be present at ringside prior to the start of and throughout each contest. The physicia…

20-3.6. Participation of Suspended Boxer. Any boxer suspended or serving a rest period must not participate in any event without commission approval. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 10, Issue No. 6, eff June 27, 1986; State Register Volume 20, Issue No. 6, Part 1, eff J…

20-3.7. Compulsory and Discretionary Eight Count; Three Knockdowns in One Round. 1. A compulsory count of eight (8) must be taken by every boxer who is knocked down by a punch and he/she must take the count whether reclining or standing. 2. The referee may declare a standing eigh…

20-3.8. Use of Drugs and Stimulants. The Commission has the authority to require any participant to submit to tests for the presence of unauthorized substances, as listed, including but not limited to, the most recent prohibited list maintained by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Th…

20-3.9. Other Substances. 1. Substances such as Monsel’s solution and other iron or bismouth compounds, collodion, silver nitrate, ammonia or smelling salts are prohibited. The use of such modalities will result in disqualification, suspension or fine of the boxer, manager and/or…

20-4.1. General Requirement. 1. No person, club, corporation or association may be a participant in boxing bouts in the State of South Carolina without first having obtained a license from the State Athletic Commission. 2. Additionally, no promoter may hold or conduct boxing bout…

20-4.10. License Fees. The Commission may charge fees as shown in South Carolina Code of Regulations Chapter 10-4 and on the South Carolina State Athletic Commission website at http://llr.sc.gov/POL/Athletic/. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 12, Issue No. 6, eff June 24…

20-4.11. Lost License; Duplicate. If a license is lost, its owner may obtain a duplicate for $2.00 by written application to the State Athletic Commission. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 10, Issue No. 6, eff June 27, 1986.

20-4.12. Refunds for License and Permit Fees. Fees paid for licenses and permits shall not be refundable. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 39, Issue No. 6, Doc. No. 4536, eff June 26, 2015. SUBCHAPTER 5 Boxers

20-4.2. Application. 1. Applications for licenses and permits as required herein shall be made under oath and upon forms prescribed by the Commission. The license application must include a photograph showing a frontal view of the applicant’s head and shoulders. The license appli…

20-4.3. Period of Validity. Licenses for boxing are valid for one year, not to exceed one year, and will expire on December 31 st of each calendar year. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 20, Issue No. 6, Part 1, eff June 28, 1996; State Register Volume 39, Issue No. 6, Do…

20-4.4. Documents. All papers and documents filed with the Commission shall be the property of the Commission. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 39, Issue No. 6, Doc. No. 4536, eff June 26, 2015.

20-4.5. Suspensions. Promoters shall not permit any person under suspension to take part whatsoever as a participant or in arranging or conducting matches, or work during the period of suspension; however, a contestant who has been suspended because of a cut or knockout may serve…

20-4.6. Sale or Transfer of License. No license or permit may be sold or transferred. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 39, Issue No. 6, Doc. No. 4536, eff June 26, 2015.

20-4.7. Promoter Responsibility. All promoters holding licenses and permits shall be absolutely responsible to the Commission for all matches held, given or conducted under such license and permit. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 39, Issue No. 6, Doc. No. 4536, eff June…

20-4.8. Permit Application and Fee. 1. Every promoter must have a current license to conduct, hold or give boxing matches and must apply to the Commission for a permit. The application for such permit must be in the Commission office at least fourteen (14) days before the schedul…

20-4.9. Passport (Boxers Fight Record). The Commission may require all boxers to register for passports (Boxers Fight Record). HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 10, Issue No. 6, eff June 27, 1986; State Register Volume 12, Issue No. 6, eff June 24, 1988; State Register Vo…

20-5.1. Physical Examination. 1. The Commission may require any boxer applying for a license to be examined by a physician or physicians. 2. The Commission may order examinations of boxers at any time for the purpose of determin- ing whether such boxers are fit and qualified to e…

20-5.10. Failure to Appear for Weigh-In. Any boxer who fails to appear for the official weigh-in within the time specified by the Commission shall be subject to disciplinary action as provided for by statute or these regulations. HISTORY: Formerly 20-5.11; Amended by State Regist…

20-5.11. Failure to Appear for Bout. Any boxer who fails to appear for a bout shall be subject to disciplinary action as provided for by statute or these regulations. HISTORY: Formerly 20-5.12; Amended by State Register Volume 39, Issue No. 6, Doc. No. 4536, eff June 26, 2015.

20-5.12. Failure to Give Satisfactory Performance. If a boxer, in the judgment of a Commission Representative and the Chief Ring Official, fails to give a satisfactory performance or demonstrates insufficient skills to safely compete as a professional boxer, the boxer may be susp…

20-5.13. Boxer with Suspended Manager. 1. A boxer whose manager has been suspended may continue boxing independently during the term of such suspension, signing all contracts for matches. 2. No payment of a boxer’s earnings may be made by any licensed club to a manager under susp…

20-5.14. Number of Rounds. Boxers can be matched at four (4), six (6), eight (8), ten (10), or twelve (12) rounds. The Commission may limit the number of rounds at its discretion. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 22, Issue No. 6, Part 3, eff June 26, 1998; Formerly 20-5.…

20-5.15. Foul. 1. The following are fouls in boxing, and boxers committing any of these infractions are subject to penalty as the referee sees fit: a. Hitting below the belt; b. Hitting an opponent who is down or who is getting up after being down; c. Holding an opponent with one…

20-5.16. Time Between Bouts. For boxers there shall be an interval of seven (7) days between the dates of the bouts or for such time as shall be determined at the discretion of the Commission. There shall be a mandatory interval of thirty (30) days between bouts after a boxer’s p…

20-5.17. Inability to Perform Contract Due to Injuries or Illness. Whenever a licensed contestant, because of injuries or illness, is unable to take part in a contest for which he/she is under a contract or bout agreement, he/she (or his/her manager) must immediately report the s…

20-5.18. Facial Hair and Jewelry; contact lenses prohibited. All boxers must be clean and neat when they participate in ring contests. Facial hair shall be at the discretion of the Commission. All jewelry and/or piercing accessories are prohibited during competi- tion. Boxers mus…

20-5.19. Boxers from the Same Stable. Any contest between two (2) boxers from the same stable may be held only with the approval of the Commission. HISTORY: Formerly 20-5.22; Amended by State Register Volume 39, Issue No. 6, Doc. No. 4536, eff June 26, 2015.

20-5.2. Age. 1. The minimum and maximum ages for professional boxing in South Carolina are eighteen to thirty-five (18-35) years old, unless otherwise set by statute. The maximum age may be waived by the Commission designee for a specific contestant. A professional boxer petition…

20-5.20. Disqualification of Boxer. If a boxer persists in fouling, despite a referee’s warning of clean sportsmanship, the referee shall have the right to disqualify said boxer. HISTORY: Formerly 20-5.23; Amended by State Register Volume 39, Issue No. 6, Doc. No. 4536, eff June …