Version 1983
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L’ASSOCIATION MEDICALE MONDIALE,INC LA ASOCIACION MEDICA MUNDIAL, INC
THE WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION,lnc.
28, AVENUE DES ALPES· 01210 FERNEY·VOLTAIRE • FRANCE
Telephone (SO). 40 75 75
Cable address: WOMEDAS. Ferney-Voltaire
November 1983 17.K
Original: English
WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ·RECOMMENDATI ONS
concerning
BOXING
Adopted by the 35th World Medical Assembly,
Venice, Italy, October 1983
Boxing is a dangerous sport. Unlike other sports, the basic intent
of boxing is to produce bodily harm in the opponent. Boxing can
result in death and produces an alarming incidence of chronic
brain injury. For this reason, the World Medical Association
recommends that boxing be banned.
Until that goal is achieved, the following recommendations should
apply to boxing:
Unti that goal. ~s acn~eveu, I..LU::: .LU.l….L’Vn .. ~&”‘=’ .&. – – _•• _ …_ • • _ – – – – – – –
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apply to boxing:
1. Request NMAs to encourage the establishment of a ‘.’National
Registry of Boxers” for all amateur and professional boxers,
including “sparring mates”, in their country. The proposed
functions of the registry would be to record the results of
all licensed bouts, including technical knockouts, knockouts,
and other boxing injuries, and to compile injury and Win/lose
records for individual boxers.
2. Request NMAs to plan ,~nd conduct conferences with interested
members of the medical profession, medical representatives of
various government boxing commissions, and representatives of
organized professional and amateur boxing organizations, to
review criteria for the physical examination of boxers, to
decernu.ne other comprehensive medical measures necessary for
the prevention of brain injury in the sport, and to develop
specific criteria for the discontinuance of a bout for medical
reasons.
3. Reconunend to all boxing jurisdictions that the ring physician
should be authorized to stop any bout in progress, at any time,
to examine a contestant and, when indicated, to terminate a
bout that might, in his opinion, result in serious injury for
either contestant.
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4. Urge boxing jurisdictions to conduct frequent medical
training seminars for all ring personnel.
5. Recommend to all boxing jurisdictions that no amateur or
professional boxing bout be permitted unless:
a) the contest is held in an area where adequate
neurosurgical facilities are immediately available
for skilled emergency treatment of an injured boxer;
b) a portable resuscitator with oXigen equipment and
appropriate endotracheal tubes are available at
ringside; and
c) a comprehensive evacuation plan for the removal of
any seriously injured boxer to hospital facilities
is ready.
6. Inform boxing jurisdictions that unsupervised boxing
competition between unlicensed boxers is a most dangerous
practice that may result in serious injury or death to 4t
contestants, and should be condemned. .
7. Urge all boxing jurisdictions to mandate the use of safety
equipment such as plastic safety mats and padded cornerposts
and to encourage continued development of safety equipment.
8. Urge all boxing jurisdictions to extend all safety measures
to sparring partners.
9. Urge all
strictly
–J- —
strictly
boxing jurisdictions to upgrade, standardize,
enforce medical evaluations for boxers.
…,””…….. u’::j J I.U.~:sU~cl:~ons to upgrade, standardize,
enforce medical evaluations for boxers.
and
and
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