Report on boxer’s death open for input from public
Alberta’s combative sports community, city council and members of the public get the chance next week to weigh in on a report into the death of boxer Tim Hague.
The 130-plus page, two-volume report prepared by Albertabased consultant MNP LLP and released late last year details the circumstances surrounding Hague’s death in June and makes 18 recommendations to improve fighter safety, increase oversight and monitoring and ultimately calls for the establishment of a provincial combative sports commission.
Hague died in hospital two days after being knocked out in a heavyweight boxing match against Adam Braidwood.
City council later put a moratorium on all professional combative sports for up to one year.
All but one of the recommendations in the report, which will go to city council’s community and public services committee for debate on Jan. 17, can be implemented within six months.
The most substantial recommendation is the creation of a provincewide commission. The recommendations include: Keeping records on whether a ■ promoter’s licence is approved or denied.
Maintaining files for each contestant ■ with their fight and suspension history.
Ensuring ringside doctors are ■ imposing the minimum medical suspensions as required by policy.
Ensuring medical suspensions ■ are the same for mixed martial arts and boxing events.
Requiring ringside doctors to ■ impose indefinite medical suspensions for all head injuries, win or lose. Fighters shouldn’t be cleared until they provide medical evidence they haven’t sustained brain trauma.
Holding the executive director ■ accountable for sharing all results and suspensions through official sport websites.
Licensing matchmakers and ■ requiring them to sign off, acknowledging they have reviewed the medical history of each contestant.
Creating a confidential tip line ■ to an independent third party to allow anyone concerned to red flag an upcoming fight.
Requiring the commission to ■ report annually to city council on how policy is being followed.