Presentation for sports physicians on medical examinations for part of the competitive fighters

The VA is currently working on the introduction of a biennial medical examination for A- and B-class kickboxers and Thai boxers, MMA professionals and veterans. The plan for this was presented last week at a meeting of the Dutch Association for Sports Medicine (Vereniging voor Sportgeneeskunde).

More than thirty sports physicians and sports physicians in training came to Theo Meijer Sport in Leusden to discuss various aspects of their profession. The Vechtsportautoriteit was invited to present its plan for medical examinations for top-level combat sports athletes and veterans. The intention is to make these examinations mandatory during the course of 2024. This should help to prevent or limit medical incidents in the ring or cage and to monitor the health of competitive athletes.

At present, veterans (aged 40 and over) are already required to undergo a physical examination before stepping into the ring or cage. The Medical Committee of the VA wants this to apply to A- and B-class kickboxers and Thai boxers and MMA professionals as well. The experienced ringside physicians and sports physicians on this committee want athletes who regularly fight high-intensity bouts to be monitored more closely.

The board is acting on the wishes of these experts. The VA is organising the medical examinations in cooperation with Dutch sports physicians. As soon as the substantive requirements of the examination have been determined exactly and the arrangements for carrying it out have been finalised, competitive fighters will receive all the necessary information about this from the VA in good time.