REGINA – The province has introduced legislation on Tuesday that will create a provincial athletics commission to sanction mixed martial arts (MMA) and boxing events in Saskatchewan.
The proposed commission will consist of five people: an athletics commissioner, an advisory committee comprised of three subject matter experts, and an adjudicator.
The commission will be in charge of approving events for the province and will also be responsible for making sure that competitors participate in appropriate pre- and post-fight medical exams.
“This commission is a positive step for our growing province,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Kevin Doherty said. “It will help ensure athletes’ safety. Plus, the commission will give Saskatchewan communities the ability to hold legal professional MMA events.”
“The City Mayors’ Caucus of the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association supports the Government of Saskatchewan’s decision to move forward on implementing a provincial athletics commission,” City of Humboldt Mayor and SUMA V.P. of Cities Malcolm Eaton said. “We believe a provincial commission will be the most effective method for sanctioning professional mixed martial arts competitions in Saskatchewan.”
“Athlete safety seems to be our government’s number one priority when it comes to mixed martial arts events and that’s great,” MMA facility owner and Jiu Jitsu instructor Anthony Scales said. “An athletics commission will help ensure that competitions are well-managed, that competitors are treated fairly, and most importantly, that everyone participating is as safe as possible.”
The province hopes to have the athletics commission up and running by the summer of 2014.
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