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On Tuesday, 10-14-08, the Georgia Athletic & Entertainment Commission is meeting at 11AM at 2 Martin Luther King Jr Dr West Tower Suite 802 Atlanta GA 30334.
It is likely a Pro Wrestling Regulation will be voted on at the meeting.
The current proposed regulation is as follows:
Proposed Wrestling Rules 85-4-.01 (Licensed Organizations) (1) No person shall promote or hold a professional wrestling match, contest, or exhibition within this state without first obtaining a Wrestling Organization license issued by the commission. Licenses shall be issued annually and shall expire on December 31 of each calendar year. Authority: 43-4B-51 (c) and 43- 4B-50 (a) (2) Wrestling Organizations shall apply to the commission for a license required by subsection (1) of this section on a form provided by the commission. The application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee not to exceed $100.00. (3) While promoting and sponsoring a match, contest, or exhibition of wrestling in this state, the Wrestling Organization shall: (a) Hold a valid license issued by the commission as a professional Wrestling Organization. Authority: 43-4B-51 (c) and 43-4B-50 (b) File an event report, as specified by the commission, with the commission 15 days before each professional match, contest, or exhibition and 15 days after the professional match, contest, or exhibition. Authority: 43-4B-51 (c), 43-4B-52 (a), 43-4B-52(b) (c) Report to the commission the intent to use foreign objects or props that are any sharp object, any hammer or other item that could cause bodily harm. Firearms are not permitted as acceptable props.Authority 43- 4B-51 (c) and 40-4B-50 (a) (d) At the time the Wrestling Organization has knowledge that an advertised wrestler will not appear, the wrestling organization shall post a notice to that effect outside of the entrances to the venue and include such information as required on post event reporting per 85-4- .01 (3)(b). Authority: 43-4B-51 (c), 43-4B-52(a), 43-4B-52(b) (e) Ensure all buildings or structures used or intended to be used for holding or giving professional matches, contests, or exhibitions of professional wrestling shall be safe and shall in all manner conform to the laws, ordinances, and regulations pertaining to buildings in the city or unincorporated area of the county where the building or structure is situated. Authority: 43-4B-50 (a) (4) While authorizing and governing a match, contest, or exhibition of wrestling in this state, the Wrestling Organization shall also ensure that: (a) All wrestlers performing in a match, contest, or exhibition are at least 18 years old. (b) All professional wrestlers performing in a match, contest, or exhibition shall only wrestle inside the separation barrier or backstage on anywhere that will not endanger the safety of the public or the wrestler. defined in Rule 85-4- .03(a)(3). (c) Each professional wrestler participating in the match, contest, or exhibition has prior to December 31 of every year submitted to the commission documentation, signed by a licensed physician, of passing a {A0231427_1} 2 basic medical exam. The form and contents of the documentation shall be provided by the commission. (d) No professional wrestler shall perform while under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol. If there is reason to suspect that a wrestler is impaired or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the organization may be required to have the wrestler tested immediately upon request by the commission. (e) Anyone involved with the promotion or performance of a professional wrestling event shall not deliberately cut themselves, any other participant, or any other persons involved in a wrestling match or event. (f) No professional wrestler shall use anabolic steroids, human growth hormone or other controlled substance unless prescribed by a doctor for a specific medical condition. Wrestling Organizations are prohibited from providing prescription drugs of any kind to a performer. Authority O.C.G.A. § 43-4B-50(a) 85-4-.02 (Professional wrestling event location) (1) When a match, contest, or exhibition of professional wrestling occurs within this state, the wrestling organization shall take necessary steps to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of the wrestlers and the spectators. Such standards shall include the following: (a) The venue used complies with the standards set forth in Code section 85-4- .01(3)(e). Authority 43-4B-50 (a) (b) At least 2 security persons dressed and clearly identified as security must be present. Authority 43-4B-50 (a) (c) There must be a separation barrier between the ring and the spectators. i. The barrier shall be made from metal, rope or other shatterproof material, stable, at least 42 inches from the floor of the venue, and be designed to prevent a wrestler from exiting through the barrier into the seating area during a contest; and ii. The barrier shall be 6 feet away from the ring and 4 feet from the first row of seating. Authority 43-4B-50 (a) (d) The ring mats must be cleaned and swept after each wrestling event and must be replaced by the wrestling organization at least once per year or 24 shows. Authority 43-4B-50 a) (e) Glass shall not be permitted to be used in any match, contest, or exhibition. Authority 43-4B-50 (a) (f) Fire shall not make contact with any wrestler during a match, contest, or exhibition; and Authority 43-4B-50 (a) (g) Illegal drugs and alcoholic beverages shall not be permitted in the locker rooms, dressing areas, or backstage during a wrestling match, contest, or exhibition. Authority 43-4B-50 (a) {A0231427_1} 3
Take a tape measure and look at how far back 4 feet is, which is how far these rules want seating back from the ring barrier.
Note that the rules require medical exams from wrestlers by Dec 31.....but is that of the prior year or the year in which someone may wrestle. If the prior year, how would all wrestlers know they'd work in Georgia the next year and if the year in which someone wrestles, does that mean that someone can wrestle all year so long as they get a medical test in by year's end?
As with all State efforts to regulate an entertainment form, these rules are stupid & unecessary.
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