Michael Towell

The Sheriff Principal, having considered the information presented at the inquiry, in terms of 26(1)(b) of the Act, recommends: R1. That the BBBC should, as soon as reasonably practicable, obtain from each boxer presently licensed by them details of their current GP and of any other medical professional from whom they have received treatment in the past 12 months; R2. That the BBBC should give consideration to suspending the licence of any boxer who does not provide the details required in terms of recommendation R1 within 21 days of being requested to do so; R3. That the BBBC should, as soon as reasonably practicable, send to each boxer’s GP and to any other relevant medical professional a copy of the boxer’s latest BBBC medical examination form and seek from them (a) confirmation that the information therein contained is, to the best of the their knowledge and belief, complete and accurate; and (b) either (i) details of any relevant medical history of the boxer which may be relevant to his fitness to box; or (ii) confirmation that there is nothing within the boxer’s medical history that is relevant to his fitness to box; R4. That the BBBC should, as soon as reasonably practicable, revise their medical examination form to require the provision of the details of the boxer’s current GP and of any other medical professional from whom they have received treatment in the previous 12 months; R5. In the case of a boxer applying for a new licence or for the renewal of an existing licence, prior to granting or renewing a licence the BBBC should send to the boxer’s GP and to any other relevant medical professional a copy of the boxer’s latest medical examination form and obtain from them (a) confirmation that the information therein contained is, to the best of their knowledge and belief, complete and accurate; and (b) either (i) details of any relevant medical history of the boxer which may be relevant to his fitness to box; or (ii) confirmation that there is nothing within the boxer’s medical history that is relevant to his fitness to box; R6. That the British Medical Association should actively encourage all of their members to respond promptly to any request they may receive from the BBBC to provide the information set out in recommendations R3 and R5; and R7. That the BBBC should revise their rule 5.7 to (a) remove the reference to the illness or injury being sustained during training for any specific contest; and (b) require all boxers; trainers; managers; and promoters to immediately inform the BBBC of the illness or injury in question.