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The Legislative Service Commission staff updates the Revised Code on an ongoing basis, as it completes its act review of enacted legislation. Updates may be slower during some times of the year, depending on the volume of enacted legislation.

Chapter 3773 | Ohio Athletic Commission

 
 
 
Section
Section 3773.06 | Prohibition against hunting or shooting game near township park.
 

No person shall hunt, shoot, or kill game within one-half mile of a township park.

The board of township park commissioners may grant permission to kill game not desired within the limits prohibited by this section.

Section 3773.13 | Suppression of prize fight.
 

When a sheriff has reason to believe that a fight or contention is about to take place in his county, he shall forthwith summon sufficient citizens of the county, suppress such fight or contention, and arrest all persons found at such prize fight violating the law and take them before a judge of the court of common pleas or magistrate.

Section 3773.31 | Athletic commission definitions.
 

As used in sections 3773.31 to 3773.57 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Professional boxer" means a boxer who competes for a prize, in cash or otherwise, that has a value of more than twenty-five dollars.

(B) "Amateur" means a contestant who does not compete for a prize, in cash or otherwise, that has a value of more than twenty-five dollars.

(C) "Contestant" means a contestant in a public boxing match or exhibition.

(D) "Public boxing match or exhibition" means any public or private competition that involves the sports of boxing, kick boxing, karate, tough man contests or tough guy contests, or any other form of boxing or martial arts, but does not include professional wrestling.

(E) "Tough man contests or tough guy contests" means any competition that involves any physical contact bout between two or more individuals who attempt to knock out the opponent by using boxing, kicking, or choking techniques or martial arts tactics or any combination of such techniques and tactics.

(F) "Public boxing or wrestling match or exhibition" means any public or private competition that involves the sports of boxing, kick boxing, karate, tough man contests or tough guy contests, professional wrestling, or any other form of boxing or martial arts.

(G) "Boxing match or exhibition" means a public or private competition pertaining to the sport of boxing.

Sections 3773.31 to 3773.57 of the Revised Code do not apply to elementary or secondary school, college, or university boxing, karate, or wrestling coaches who receive compensation for teaching or coaching boxing, karate, or wrestling only from the school, college, or university; to amateur boxers; or to boxing, karate, or wrestling matches and exhibitions in which all of the contestants are amateur boxers, amateur participants in a karate match or exhibition, or amateur wrestlers from an elementary or secondary school, a college, or a university.

Section 3773.32 | License requirements,.
 

No person shall promote, sponsor, or conduct a public boxing match or exhibition unless such person is licensed under section 3773.36 of the Revised Code, secures a permit to conduct the match or exhibition under section 3773.38 of the Revised Code, and otherwise complies with sections 3773.31 to 3773.57 of the Revised Code.

No person shall promote or conduct a professional wrestling match or exhibition unless such person is licensed under section 3773.36 of the Revised Code, secures a permit to conduct the match or exhibition under section 3773.38 of the Revised Code, and otherwise complies with applicable provisions of sections 3773.31 to 3773.57 of the Revised Code.

No person shall participate in a public boxing match or exhibition as a referee, judge, matchmaker, timekeeper, or contestant, or as a manager, trainer, or second of a contestant, unless such person is licensed under section 3773.41 of the Revised Code and otherwise complies with sections 3773.31 to 3773.57 of the Revised Code.

Sections 3773.31 to 3773.57 of the Revised Code do not apply to any boxing, karate, or wrestling match or exhibition conducted as part of an interscholastic or intercollegiate athletic program, or as part of an amateur athletic program sponsored by or under the supervision of the national amateur athletic union or the American olympic association in which all contestants are amateur boxers, amateur participants in a karate match or exhibition, or amateur wrestlers; to any boxing, karate, or wrestling match or exhibition conducted under the supervision or control of the Ohio national guard, the state militia, or reserve officers' associations in which all contestants are members of the guard, militia, or officers' association; or to any amateur boxing, kick boxing, karate, or wrestling event or exhibition conducted under the supervision of the fraternal order of police of Ohio, the Ohio association of professional firefighters, or the northern Ohio fire fighters, the proceeds of which benefit a charitable organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or a charitable organization that the fraternal order of police of Ohio, the Ohio association of professional firefighters, or the northern Ohio fire fighters supported before the effective date of this amendment.

Section 3773.33 | Ohio athletic commission.
 

(A) There is hereby created the Ohio athletic commission. The commission shall consist of five voting members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, not more than three of whom shall be of the same political party, and two nonvoting members, one of whom shall be a member of the senate appointed by and to serve at the pleasure of the president of the senate and one of whom shall be a member of the house of representatives appointed by and to serve at the pleasure of the speaker of the house of representatives. To be eligible for appointment as a voting member, a person shall be a qualified elector and a resident of the state for not less than five years immediately preceding the person's appointment. Two voting members shall be knowledgeable in boxing and mixed martial arts. One commission member shall hold the degree of doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy.

(B) No person shall be appointed to the commission or be an employee of the commission who is licensed, registered, or regulated by the commission. No member shall have any legal or beneficial interest, direct or indirect, pecuniary or otherwise, in any person who is licensed, registered, or regulated by the commission or who participates in prize fights or public boxing or wrestling matches or exhibitions. No member shall participate in any fight, match, or exhibition other than in the member's official capacity as a member of the commission, or as an inspector as authorized in section 3773.52 of the Revised Code.

(C) The governor shall appoint the voting members to the commission. Of the initial appointments, two shall be for terms ending one year after September 3, 1996, two shall be for terms ending two years after September 3, 1996, and one shall be for a term ending three years after September 3, 1996. Thereafter, terms of office shall be for three years, each term ending the same day of the same month of the year as did the term which it succeeds. Each member shall hold office from the date of the member's appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of the term. Any member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office.

The governor shall name one voting member as chairperson of the commission at the time of making the appointment of any member for a full term. Three voting members shall constitute a quorum, and the affirmative vote of the majority of voting members shall be necessary for any action taken by the commission. No vacancy on the commission impairs the authority of the remaining members to exercise all powers of the commission.

Voting members, when engaged in commission duties, shall receive a per diem compensation determined in accordance with division (J) of section 124.15 of the Revised Code, and all members shall receive their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.

Each voting member, before entering upon the discharge of the member's duties, shall file a surety bond payable to the treasurer of state in the sum of ten thousand dollars. Each surety bond shall be conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties of the office, executed by a surety company authorized to transact business in this state, and filed in the office of the secretary of state.

The governor may remove any voting member for malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office after giving the member a copy of the charges against the member and affording the member an opportunity for a public hearing, at which the member may be represented by counsel, upon not less than ten days' notice. If the member is removed, the governor shall file a complete statement of all charges made against the member and the governor's finding on the charges in the office of the secretary of state, together with a complete report of the proceedings. The governor's decision shall be final.

Section 3773.34 | Commission - powers and duties.
 

(A) The Ohio athletic commission shall adopt and may amend or rescind rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, prescribing the conditions under which prize fights and public boxing or wrestling matches or exhibitions may be conducted, classifying professional boxers by weight, and providing for the administration of sections 3773.31 to 3773.57 of the Revised Code. The rules may require that an applicant for a contestant's license to participate in a public boxing match or exhibition take an HIV test, as defined in section 3701.24 of the Revised Code, before being issued the contestant's license and may require that a licensed contestant take such an HIV test before participating in a public boxing match or exhibition. The commission, or the commission's executive director when authorized by the commission, may issue, deny, suspend, or revoke permits to hold prize fights and public boxing or wrestling matches or exhibitions. The commission may issue, deny, suspend, or revoke licenses to persons engaged in any public boxing match or exhibition as authorized by sections 3773.31 to 3773.57 of the Revised Code.

(B) In addition to the duties set forth in this chapter, the Ohio athletic commission shall take action as necessary to carry out the provisions of Chapter 4771. of the Revised Code governing athlete agents.

(C) On or before the thirty-first day of December of each year, the commission shall make a report to the governor of its proceedings for the year ending on the first day of December of that calendar year, and may include in the report any recommendations pertaining to its duties.

Section 3773.35 | Application for promoter's license.
 

Any person who wishes to conduct a public or private competition that involves boxing, wrestling, mixed martial arts, kick boxing, tough man contests, tough guy contests, or any other form of boxing or martial arts shall apply to the Ohio athletic commission for a promoter's license. Each application shall be filed with the commission on forms provided by the commission, and shall be accompanied by an application fee as prescribed in section 3773.43 of the Revised Code and, with the exception of wrestling events, by a surety bond of not less than twenty thousand dollars conditioned for compliance with sections 3773.31 to 3773.57 of the Revised Code and the rules of the commission.

The commission shall prescribe the form of the application for the promoter's license. The application shall include the name of the applicant, the post office address of the applicant, and any other information the commission requires.

Section 3773.36 | Promoter's license.
 

(A) Upon the proper filing of an application to conduct any public or private competition that involves boxing, mixed martial arts, kick boxing, tough man contests, tough guy contests, or any other form of boxing or martial arts, accompanied by the surety bond and the application fee, or upon the proper filing of an application to conduct any public or private competition that involves wrestling accompanied by the application fee, the Ohio athletic commission shall issue a promoter's license to the applicant if it finds that the applicant is not in default on any payment, obligation, or debt payable to the state under sections 3773.31 to 3773.57 of the Revised Code, is financially responsible, and is knowledgeable in the proper conduct of such matches or exhibitions.

(B) Notwithstanding the requirements for a license under division (A) of this section, the commission shall issue a promoter's license in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an applicant if either of the following applies:

(1) The applicant holds a license in another state.

(2) The applicant has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter as a promoter in a state that does not issue that license.

(C) Each license issued pursuant to this section shall bear the name of the licensee, the post office address of the licensee, the date of expiration, an identification number designated by the commission, and the seal of the commission.

(D) A promoter's license shall expire twelve months after its date of issuance and shall become invalid on that date unless renewed. A promoter's license may be renewed upon application to the commission and upon payment of the renewal fee prescribed in section 3773.43 of the Revised Code. The commission shall renew the license unless it denies the application for renewal for one or more reasons stated in section 3123.47 or 3773.53 of the Revised Code.

Last updated December 29, 2023 at 6:52 AM

Section 3773.37 | Photograph with identification of applicant to be taken.
 

The Ohio athletic commission shall cause a photograph with identification of any person signing the application for a license under section 3773.35 or 3773.41 of the Revised Code to be taken in duplicate and filed with the commission.. For purposes of this section, the commission may allow a photograph with identification to be a photocopy of a valid commercial driver's license issued under Chapter 4506. or a driver's license issued under Chapter 4507. of the Revised Code.

Section 3773.38 | Applying for permit to conduct public boxing or wrestling match as exhibition.
 

Each person who holds a promoter's license issued under section 3773.36 of the Revised Code who desires to conduct a public boxing or wrestling match or exhibition where one or more contests are to be held shall obtain a permit from the Ohio athletic commission or the commission's executive director when the executive director is authorized by the commission to issue those types of permits. Application for such a permit shall be made in writing and on forms prescribed by the commission, shall be filed with the commission, and shall be accompanied by the permit fee prescribed in section 3773.43 of the Revised Code.

The application for a permit issued under this section shall include the date and starting time of the match or exhibition, the address of the place where the match or exhibition is to be held, the names of the contestants, the seating capacity of the building or hall where the exhibition is to be held, the admission charge or any other charges, the amount of compensation or the percentage of gate receipts to be paid to each contestant, the name and address of the applicant, a copy of the current official rules that govern the particular sport, and the serial number of the applicant's promoter's license.

The commission, or the commission's executive director when authorized by the commission, may require the applicant to deposit with the commission before a public boxing match or exhibition a cash bond, certified check, bank draft, or surety bond in an amount equal to five per cent of the estimated gross receipts from the match or exhibition.

Section 3773.39 | Issuance of permit to conduct match - revocation.
 

(A) Upon receipt of an application for a permit to hold a public boxing or wrestling match or exhibition under section 3773.38 of the Revised Code, the Ohio athletic commission, or the commission's executive director when authorized by the commission, shall determine if the applicant holds a valid promoter's license issued pursuant to section 3773.36 of the Revised Code. Upon receipt of an application for a permit to hold a public boxing match or exhibition, the commission, or the commission's executive director when authorized by the commission, also shall determine if the contestants are evenly and fairly matched according to skill, experience, and weight so as to produce a fair and sportsmanlike contest, and whether the applicant is financially responsible and is able to pay to each contestant the compensation or percentage of the gate receipts named in the application. The commission, or the commission's executive director when authorized by the commission, may, if applicable, require the applicant to deposit with it within forty-eight hours before the match or exhibition the total compensation or estimated portion of gate receipts to be paid all contestants named in the application made under section 3773.38 of the Revised Code.

(B) If the commission, or the commission's executive director when authorized by the commission, determines that the applicant has met all the requirements specified in division (A) of this section, the commission or executive director shall issue the applicant a permit to conduct the match or exhibition. If the applicant fails to deposit any compensation or portion of gate receipts required by the commission, or executive director before the first contest of the match or exhibition is held, the commission, or the commission's executive director when authorized by the commission, may revoke the permit and order the applicant not to conduct the match or exhibition described in the permit.

(C) Each permit issued pursuant to this section shall bear the name and post office address of the applicant, the address of the place where the public boxing or wrestling match or exhibition is to be held, the date and starting time of the match or exhibition, and a serial number designated by the commission.

A permit issued under this section shall allow the permit holder to conduct only the match or exhibition named in the permit. A permit is not transferable.

Section 3773.40 | Prohibitions.
 

No person who holds a promoter's license to conduct a public boxing match or exhibition under section 3773.36 of the Revised Code shall:

(A) Hold any match or exhibition at any time or place other than that stated on a permit issued under section 3773.38 of the Revised Code;

(B) Allow any contestant to participate in the match or exhibition unless the contestant is the licensed contestant named in the application for such permit or a licensed contestant authorized to compete as a substitute for such a contestant by the inspector assigned to the facility where the match or exhibition is held for that match or exhibition;

(C) Charge a higher admission price for a match or exhibition than that stated in the application;

(D) Pay a greater compensation or percentage of the gate receipts to any contestant than that stated in the application.

The Ohio athletic commission, or the commission's executive director when authorized by the commission, upon application by a holder of a permit under section 3773.38 of the Revised Code, may allow the permit holder to hold the match or exhibition for which the permit was issued at an alternative site that is within the same municipal corporation or township and that offers substantially similar seating facilities, or allow the permit holder to substitute contestants or seconds, provided that the substitute contestants are evenly matched with their opponents in skill, experience, and weight.

Section 3773.41 | Application for participant's or contestant's license.
 

Any person who desires to participate in a public boxing match, mixed martial arts event, or any other unarmed combat sport regulated by the Ohio athletic commission as a referee, judge, matchmaker, timekeeper, or contestant, or as a manager, trainer, or second of a contestant, shall apply for a license from the Ohio athletic commission. The application shall be on forms provided by the commission. Each application shall be accompanied by the application fee prescribed in section 3773.43 of the Revised Code. The applicant shall verify the application under oath.

The commission shall prescribe the form of the application for a participant's license. The application shall include the correct and ring or assumed name, if any, of the applicant, the applicant's address, the applicant's date and place of birth, the applicant's occupation, and a copy of the applicant's win and loss record as a contestant, if applicable.

Section 3773.42 | Official's and contestant's licenses.
 

Upon the proper filing of an application for a referee's, judge's, matchmaker's, timekeeper's, manager's, trainer's, contestant's, or second's license and payment of the applicable application fee, the Ohio athletic commission shall issue the license to the applicant if it determines that the applicant is not likely to engage in acts detrimental to the fair and honest conduct of public boxing matches, mixed martial arts events, or any other unarmed combat sports regulated by the commission and is qualified to hold such a license by reason of the applicant's knowledge and experience.

A person shall not be determined to possess the knowledge and experience necessary to qualify that person to hold a referee's license unless all of the following conditions are met:

(A) The person has completed such referee training requirements as the commission prescribes by rule.

(B) The person possesses such experience requirements as the commission prescribes by rule.

The commission shall issue a referee's license to each person who meets the requirements of divisions (A) and (B) of this section.

If upon the proper filing of an application for a contestant's license the commission determines that the applicant is not likely to engage in acts detrimental to the conduct of public boxing matches, mixed martial arts events, or any other unarmed combat sports regulated by the commission and possesses sufficient knowledge and experience, the commission shall issue the license to the applicant.

Each license issued pursuant to this section shall bear the correct name, or assumed name, if any, of the licensee, the address of the licensee, the date of issue, and a number designated by the commission.

A license issued pursuant to this section shall expire twelve months after its date of issue unless renewed. Upon application for renewal and payment of the renewal fee prescribed in section 3773.43 of the Revised Code, the commission shall renew the license unless it denies the application for one or more reasons stated in section 3123.47 or 3773.53 of the Revised Code.

Last updated October 9, 2021 at 5:15 AM

Section 3773.421 | Out-of-state participant license.
 

The Ohio athletic commission shall issue a referee's, judge's, matchmaker's, timekeeper's, manager's, trainer's, contestant's, or second's license in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an applicant if either of the following applies:

(A) The applicant holds a license in another state.

(B) The applicant has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter as a referee, judge, matchmaker, timekeeper, manager, trainer, contestant, or second in a state that does not issue that license.

Last updated December 29, 2023 at 6:52 AM

Section 3773.43 | Fees.
 

The Ohio athletic commission shall charge the following fees:

(A) For an application for or renewal of a promoter's license for a public or private competition that involves boxing, mixed martial arts, kick boxing, tough man contests, tough guy contests, or any other form of boxing or martial arts, one hundred dollars.

(B) For an application for or renewal of a license to participate in a public boxing match or exhibition as a contestant, or as a referee, judge, matchmaker, manager, timekeeper, trainer, or second of a contestant, twenty dollars.

(C) For a permit to conduct a public boxing match or exhibition, fifty dollars.

(D) For an application for or renewal of a promoter's license for a public or private competition that involves wrestling, two hundred dollars.

(E) For a permit to conduct a professional wrestling match or exhibition, one hundred dollars.

The commission, subject to the approval of the controlling board, may establish fees in excess of the amounts provided in this section, provided that such fees do not exceed the amounts permitted by this section by more than fifty per cent.

The fees prescribed by this section shall be paid to the treasurer of state, who shall deposit the fees in the occupational licensing and regulatory fund.

Section 3773.44 | Medical and life insurance to be provided to contestants.
 

No holder of a promoter's license under section 3773.36 of the Revised Code shall fail to insure each contestant in a public boxing match or exhibition the promoter conducts for hospital, nursing, and medication expenses and for physicians' and surgeons' services. The amount of such insurance shall not be less than five thousand dollars and shall be paid to or for the use of a contestant for any injuries sustained in a contest. No licensee shall fail to provide life insurance to each contestant. The amount of life insurance shall be not less than ten thousand dollars and shall be paid to the contestant's estate if the contestant dies as the result of participation in the match or exhibition.

Section 3773.45 | Physical examinations.
 

(A) The Ohio athletic commission shall adopt, and may amend or rescind, rules that do both of the following:

(1) Require the physical examination by appropriate medical personnel of each contestant in any public competition that involves boxing, mixed martial arts, kick boxing, karate, tough man contests, or any other form of boxing or martial arts within a specified time period before and after the competition to determine whether the contestant is physically fit to compete in the competition under specified standards, has sustained physical injuries in the competition, or requires follow-up examination; and

(2) Require the reporting of each examination to the commission.

(B) No holder of a promoter's license shall conduct a boxing match or exhibition that exceeds twelve rounds. Each round shall be not more than three minutes in length. A period of at least one minute, during which no boxing or sparring takes place, shall occur between rounds.

No holder of a promoter's license or a permit issued under section 3773.39 of the Revised Code shall allow a professional boxer to participate in more than twelve rounds of boxing within a period of seventy-two consecutive hours. For any match or exhibition or for a class of contestants, the commission may limit the number of rounds within the maximum of twelve rounds.

(C) No person shall conduct a boxing match or exhibition unless a licensed referee appointed by the commission and paid by the person is present. The referee shall direct and control the match or exhibition. Before each match or exhibition the referee shall obtain from each contestant the name of the contestant's chief second and shall hold the chief second responsible for the conduct of any assistant seconds during the match or exhibition. The referee may declare a prize, remuneration, or purse or any part thereof to which a contestant is otherwise entitled withheld if, in the referee's judgment, the contestant is not competing or did not compete honestly. A contestant may appeal the referee's decision in a hearing before the commission conducted in accordance with section 3773.52 of the Revised Code.

(D) No person shall hold or conduct a boxing match or exhibition unless three licensed judges appointed by the commission and paid by the person are present. Each judge shall render a decision at the end of each match or exhibition. The judges shall determine the outcome of the match or exhibition, and their decision shall be final.

(E) Each contestant in a boxing match or exhibition shall wear gloves weighing not less than six ounces during the boxing match or exhibition.

Section 3773.46 | Prohibitions.
 

No person who sponsors, promotes, or conducts a public boxing or wrestling match or exhibition shall do any of the following:

(A) Knowingly permit a person less than eighteen years of age to participate in a public boxing or wrestling match or exhibition;

(B) Knowingly permit gambling, betting, or wagering on the result of a contingency in connection with the match or exhibition;

(C) Knowingly conduct or allow to be conducted a sham or fake match or exhibition unless the sport is professional wrestling.

Section 3773.47 | Additional prohibited activities.
 

No person shall do any of the following:

(A) Violate sections 3773.31 to 3773.57 of the Revised Code or any rule of the Ohio athletic commission;

(B) Gamble, bet, or wager on the result of a contingency connected with a public boxing or wrestling match or exhibition;

(C) Participate in a sham or fake public boxing match or exhibition that is conducted by a holder of a promoter's license issued under section 3773.36 of the Revised Code;

(D) Participate in a public boxing match or exhibition if the person is under eighteen years of age;

(E) Conduct a public boxing match or exhibition in violation of the official rules that govern the particular sport.

Section 3773.48 | Prohibiting financial interest in boxer and premises.
 

No person shall have any financial interest in a boxer competing on premises owned or leased by the person or in which the person is otherwise financially interested.

Section 3773.49 | Advertising and tickets to display price.
 

Each person who conducts a public boxing or wrestling match or exhibition shall cause to be inserted into each advertisement of the match or exhibition the price of admission.

Each ticket of admission to any such match or exhibition shall clearly bear the purchase price. No person shall sell such a ticket for a price greater than that printed on the ticket. No tickets shall be sold except from the box office on the premises in which the match or exhibition is held or such additional locations as the Ohio athletic commission has authorized in writing as locations from which tickets may be sold for a designated match or exhibition.

Section 3773.50 | Tickets sold or issued may not exceed authorized capacity of facility.
 

No person licensed under section 3773.36 and issued a permit under section 3773.38 of the Revised Code shall sell and issue or cause to be sold or issued more tickets or invitations of admission to a public boxing or wrestling match or exhibition than, or admit to such match or exhibition a number of persons that exceeds, the authorized capacity of the facility or that part of the facility used for the match or exhibition. This limitation on the number of tickets extends to the issuance of complimentary tickets and free passes.

Section 3773.51 | Appointing and paying officials.
 

The Ohio athletic commission shall appoint from among licensed referees, physicians, timekeepers, and judges the officials for public boxing matches and exhibitions held under sections 3773.31 to 3773.57 of the Revised Code. These officials shall be employed by the commission as provided in section 3773.56 of the Revised Code and shall be paid by the person conducting the match or exhibition.

Section 3773.52 | Inspectors.
 

The Ohio athletic commission shall employ inspectors to attend each public boxing match or exhibition held under a permit issued under section 3773.38 of the Revised Code. Only one inspector shall be assigned to any one facility for any one match or exhibition. Any member of the commission may act as an inspector, and when acting as an inspector shall be paid as provided in this section.

The inspector shall monitor the sale of tickets from the premises box office on the day of the match or exhibition and, immediately following the counting of the gross proceeds, obtain a box office statement from the person conducting the match or exhibition and mail it to the commission. The inspector shall have complete access to any books, records, and papers pertaining to the match or exhibition.

The inspector shall give bond in the sum of five thousand dollars with sufficient sureties to be approved by and made payable to the treasurer of state. The bond shall be filed with the secretary of state. The compensation of such inspector for attending a match or exhibition, and the inspector's actual and necessary travel expenses, shall be charged to the holder of the permit at whose facility the inspector serves. The inspector shall be paid a salary fixed in accordance with Chapter 124. of the Revised Code.

The inspector may order a prize, remuneration, purse, or any part thereof withheld from a contestant if the inspector believes the contestant did not compete to the best of the contestant's ability. The inspector shall file any charges with the commission which shall hold an adjudication under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code and issue a final order within thirty days after the inspector files charges.

If the commission finds that the contestant did not compete to the best of the contestant's ability, it may revoke the contestant's license. When a license is so revoked, any prize, remuneration, purse, or part thereof that the contestant otherwise would have received shall be paid to the commission and shall become the property of the state.

Section 3773.53 | Disciplinary actions.
 

The Ohio athletic commission may revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew any license issued under sections 3773.31 to 3773.57 of the Revised Code if the licensee:

(A) Has committed an act detrimental to any sport regulated by this chapter or to the public interest, convenience, or necessity;

(B) Is associating or consorting with any person who has been convicted of a crime involving the sports regulated by the commission, including a conviction under sections 2913.02, 2915.05, or 2921.02 of the Revised Code;

(C) Is or has been consorting with bookmakers or gamblers, or has engaged in similar pursuits;

(D) Is financially irresponsible;

(E) Has been found guilty of any fraud or misrepresentation in connection with any sport regulated by this chapter;

(F) Has violated any law with respect to any sport regulated by this chapter or any rule or order of the commission;

(G) Has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of sections 2913.02, 2915.05, or 2921.02 of the Revised Code;

(H) Has engaged in any other activity that the commission determines is detrimental to any sport regulated by this chapter.

The commission, in addition to any other action it may take under this chapter, may impose a fine in an amount to be determined by rule of the commission adopted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code against any person licensed under sections 3773.31 to 3773.57 of the Revised Code for a violation of any of these sections or a violation of any rule or order of the commission. The amount of fines collected shall be deposited into the general revenue fund.

Section 3773.54 | Report of ticket sales and gross proceeds.
 

No person who conducts a public boxing match or exhibition to which sections 3773.31 to 3773.57 of the Revised Code apply shall fail to mail to the Ohio athletic commission a written report that shows the number of tickets sold for the match or exhibition and the amount of gross proceeds within twenty-four hours after the determination of the outcome of the match or exhibition. The person shall pay to the commission a tax of five per cent of the gross proceeds from the sale of tickets to the match or exhibition. The commission shall adopt rules concerning the time of payment of such taxes. Such taxes shall be levied for the purpose of providing revenue with which the state may regulate boxing, kick boxing, karate, tough man contests or tough guy contests, wrestling, and any other form of boxing or martial arts.

The commission, before granting a promoter's license under section 3773.36 of the Revised Code to any person other than a promoter of professional wrestling, shall obtain from the applicant a bond in the sum of not less than one thousand dollars, to be approved in form and sufficiency of its sureties by the treasurer of state. The bond shall be payable to the treasurer of state and shall be conditioned for the payment of the tax imposed by this section. Upon the filing and approval of the bond, the treasurer of state shall issue to the applicant two copies of a certificate verifying the filing and approval. The applicant shall file one copy in the office of the commission with the license application. No license shall be issued until the certificate is filed.

Section 3773.55 | Failure to file satisfactory report or pay tax.
 

If any person fails to make a report relating to a public boxing match or exhibition that is required under sections 3773.31 to 3773.57 of the Revised Code, or files a report under section 3773.54 of the Revised Code that the Ohio athletic commission finds unsatisfactory, the commission may examine or cause to be examined the books and records of such person. The commission may also subpoena and examine under oath any persons to determine the amount of gross proceeds for a match or exhibition and the amount of tax due.

If a person who conducts a public boxing match or exhibition under sections 3773.31 to 3773.57 of the Revised Code does not pay the tax due on or before the date prescribed by the commission, the person shall pay interest on the amount of tax due at a rate of five per cent per month, up to a maximum of twenty-five per cent. The commission shall send a notice of delinquency to such a taxpayer. A delinquent taxpayer may be disqualified from receiving a new license. Any delinquent taxpayer who does not pay the tax due and the interest on it within twenty days after the notice of delinquency was mailed is in default on such taxes and interest. Any expenses incurred by the commission in making examinations of the books and records of a taxpayer who is in default on such taxes and interest for a period of twenty days after the default occurred shall be paid by the taxpayer. The attorney general shall institute suit upon the bond filed pursuant to section 3773.35 of the Revised Code by a person who has defaulted on such taxes, interest, and expenses in order to recover such taxes, interest, and expenses.

Section 3773.56 | Executive director - employees.
 

The Ohio athletic commission may appoint an executive director and employ such persons as are necessary to administer sections 3773.31 to 3773.57 and Chapter 4771. of the Revised Code and fix their compensation. Such executive director and employees shall serve in the unclassified status and at the pleasure of the commission.

All receipts received by the commission under sections 3773.31 to 3773.57 of the Revised Code shall be deposited in the occupational licensing and regulatory fund. All vouchers of the commission shall be approved by the chairperson of the commission.

Section 3773.57 | Effect of ordinance or resolution.
 

The Ohio athletic commission and the commission's executive director shall not issue a license or permit to conduct public boxing or wrestling matches or exhibitions in a municipal corporation or the unincorporated portion of a township if the commission or the commission's executive director determines that the legislative authority of the municipal corporation or board of township trustees has in effect an ordinance or resolution prohibiting such matches or exhibitions.

Section 3773.59 | Effect of child support default on license.
 

On receipt of a notice pursuant to section 3123.43 of the Revised Code, the Ohio athletic commission shall comply with sections 3123.41 to 3123.50 of the Revised Code and any applicable rules adopted under section 3123.63 of the Revised Code with respect to a license issued pursuant to this chapter.

Section 3773.99 | Penalty.
 

(A) Whoever violates section 3773.06 or 3773.50 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(B) Whoever violates section 3773.32, 3773.40, 3773.44, 3773.45, 3773.46, or 3773.47, division (A) of section 3773.54, or division (B) of section 3773.33 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(C) Whoever violates section 3773.48 or 3773.49 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.