Expert: Lian Shoemake - 12/19/2009

Question
Hello,
I am an eighteen year old male interested in competing in amateur boxing.  Two years ago, I had two seizures from unknown causes and was diagnosed with epilepsy(most epileptic seizures have unknown causes).  I had many neurological tests done and it was determined that my seizures were NOT a result of a head injury though.  Without any hesitation, I was allowed to continue playing football for the rest of my high school career.  Since my seizures, I have been put on my medication and have been completely seizure free.  My question to you is whether there are any rules established by USA Boxing which automatically disqualify people with seizures/epilepsy to box (I know the British Board of Control has a rule like this) or if there is a very high chance I would not pass a physical to box even though, like previously stated, my seizures are well controlled.
Happy Holidays,
Ty

Answer
Hi Ty,
Thanks for the question.
Below, I've pasted language directly from the USA Boxing rulebook. This language is silent on epilepsy, but does speak to the requirement to pass a physical in order to compete. Without giving medical advice, I would think a physician would have serious concerns about approving a boxer who has had seizures for competition. That is definitely something you would have to discuss openly and honestly with the doctor.
The entire rulebook is online at www.usaboxing.org, under membership services.
I hope this helps, Ty!
Thanks again for writing.
Regards,
Lian



102.6 Medical aptitude
(1) Annual physical. It is recommended that boxers undergo an annual
physical by a qualified doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor of osteopathy
(DO). Purpose of annual physical:
(a) To reduce the risk of serious injury to a boxer before participating in the
sport of amateur boxing.
(b) Annual physical screening may identify a medical problem with the
boxer that has gone undetected or may surface at a later date.
(c) An annual physical done by a personal physician or MD will monitor
more thoroughly specific medical problems; whereas the pre- and postbout
physicals screen isolated areas of medical concern.
(d) Personal physicians have a better background on boxer’s medical
history.
(e) Reduce liability factor.
(f) Exemplify concern for medical fitness of the athlete.
(g) NOTE: BEGINNING WITH THE 2010 REGISTRATION YEAR,
ANNUAL PHYSICALS WILL BE REQUIRED. A copy of the
physical report must be submitted along with the boxer’s
membership application form.
(2) Medical certification. A boxer shall not be allowed to compete in a
sanctioned competition unless said boxer has been certified as fit to do so
by a qualified doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor of osteopathy (DO).
(3) Medical certificate. Every boxer competing outside their own country
must have in their possession a certificate signed by an authorized doctor of
medicine stating that prior to leaving their own country, they were in good
physical condition and not suffering from any injury, infection or disability
liable to affect their capacity to box in the country being visited. Such
certificate may be incorporated in a record or passbook maintained by the
boxer in accordance with the practice of their national association and must
be produced at the medical examination before their general weigh-in.
(4) Prohibited conditions and/or conditional circumstances.
(a) Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (AIDS). Any boxer and/or
non-athlete member known to have a positive HIV test shall be
prohibited from participating in the sport of amateur boxing.
Note: All members are encouraged to receive annual HIV tests.
(b) Hepatitis B and C Virus. Any boxer and/or non-athlete member
known to have active Hepatitis B or C Virus shall be prohibited from
participating in the sport of amateur boxing.
Note: All boxers and/or non-athlete members are encouraged to be
vaccinated for Hepatitus B, unless there is proof of natural or acquired
immunity.
(c) A physician may disqualify from competition any boxer who
demonstrated by physical examination of the face, orbital or oral, a
lesion that in the judgment of the physician presents an active herpetic
lesion (fever blister or cold sore).
(d) Vision. The wearing of glasses by boxers in the ring is prohibited. A
boxer totally unsighted (uncorrected vision worse than 20/400) in one or
both eyes, or possessing only one eye is prohibited from boxing. In
addition, a boxer with corrected visual acuity of worse than 20/60 in
either eye, regardless of its cause, shall be disqualified. Any boxer with
uncorrected vision between 20/20 and 20/400 may be permitted to wear
soft contact lenses. If the lens comes out and the boxer cannot continue;
the boxer losing the lens will lose by RSC. Any boxer possessing a
cataract in either eye which reduces corrected vision to 20/60 or worse,
or a boxer possessing the presence or history of retinal detachment or
tear, whether or not such condition has been effectively treated, or
presence of any other ocular pathology that may result in permanent
vision dysfunction, shall be disqualified.
(e) Deaf and/or mute boxers who can pass a physical exam are eligible to
compete. NOTE: Notice to officials is encouraged.
(f) Cuts and abrasions. No boxer shall be allowed to take part in any
contest if said boxer wears a dressing (bandage, band-aid) on a cut,
wound, abrasion, laceration or blood swelling on the scalp or face
including the nose and ears. A boxer is allowed to box if an abrasion is
covered with collodion. The decision to box should be made by the
doctor who examines the boxer on the day of said boxer’s competition.
A cut occurring during a bout in an advancing tournament should be
evaluated in regard to the elimination of the boxer from the tournament.
If the physician at ringside disqualifies the boxer from further
advancement, the other boxer, regardless of score, should advance. This
should also hold true at the pre-bout physical examination the following
morning.
(g) Braces. Boxers who wish to compete with braces are required to have
attached to their passbooks a completed Release to Compete With
Braces form. This form requires the written approval of their dentist or
orthodontist, parent and/or guardian (if under the age of 18) and a
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dentist-molded mouthpiece. This includes upper and/or lower braces.
Boxers competing with braces waive the right to dental coverage under
the USA Boxing insurance program.