COMPETITORS

2.1.1. Competitors shall be divided into the following age categories:

1. Younger Children – 7–8 years;
2. Older Children – 9–10 years;
3. Younger Boys – 11–12 years;
4. Middle Boys – 13–14 years;
5. Older Boys – 15–16 years;
6. Juniors – 17–18 years;
7. Adults – 19–39 years;
8. Veterans – 40 years and older.

2.2.1.

The conditions governing the admission of competitors (gender, age and sports qualification), as well as the list of documents to be submitted to the Accreditation Commission, shall be specified in the Competition Regulations.

The following documents shall be mandatory:

• application for participation in the competition;
• compulsory medical insurance policy issued by an accredited insurance company;
• passport (identity card, military identification card), or birth certificate together with a photo identification document (athlete’s identification card) for persons under 14 years of age;
• athlete’s qualification record book;
• original insurance policy covering accidents, life and health of the participant;
• athlete’s registration card.

2.2.2.

The team’s application for participation in the competition shall be completed in the prescribed form and shall contain the official signatures of the physician granting medical clearance, the coach and the head of the organization, certified by the appropriate seals. The application shall be submitted no later than five (5) days before the competition.

2.2.3.

Admission of competitors shall be carried out by the Accreditation Commission appointed by the Chief Referee of the competition. 

The Commission shall consist of referees selected from among the members of the approved Refereeing Board.

In disputed cases, the decision regarding the admission of a competitor shall be made by the Chief Referee.

2.2.4.

Medical clearance for participation shall be confirmed by the official team application bearing the notation “Admitted” opposite the name of each competitor, signed by a physician specializing in physical rehabilitation or sports medicine and certified by the physician’s personal seal.

The application shall also contain the physician’s full name and signature and shall bear the official seal of the licensed medical institution authorized to provide sports medicine and therapeutic physical training services.

A separate medical certificate signed by a sports medicine physician and certified by the appropriate medical institution may also be accepted.

2.2.5.

Competitors shall not be admitted to the competition in the absence of a valid medical clearance or where the submitted application contains incomplete information.

2.2.6. In individual and individual-team competitions, a participant has the right to compete in all disciplines within their weight category established during the initial weigh-in, provided that they undergo the mandatory weigh-in procedure for participation in each subsequent selected discipline. In team competitions, a participant may compete in the weight category initially established or in the next, heavier weight category In team competitions, a competitor may compete either in the weight category determined at the initial weigh-in or in the next higher weight category.

2.2.7.

The conditions governing the participation of lower-ranked competitors in competitions of higher sports categories shall be specified in the Competition Regulations.

2.2.8.

Competitors from the nearest younger age category may be admitted to compete in the next older age category only with the authorization of the organizing body.

2.2.9.

Individual competitors may be admitted upon presentation of an athlete’s qualification record book and a medical certificate issued not earlier than five (5) days before the beginning of the competition.

2.2.10.

To ensure equal competitive conditions, the Refereeing Board shall have the right to require competitors to undergo doping control and sex verification (sex test) during or after the competition.

Should a competitor or team representative refuse to undergo such procedures, the team shall not be admitted to the competition and shall be disqualified.

2.2.11.

Where errors, falsifications or inaccuracies are discovered in the submitted documents, an official report shall be drawn up. Following verification, disciplinary sanctions provided for by these Rules shall be imposed on the head of the organization, the coach and the competitor who knowingly submitted false documentation.

2.3.1. Competitors shall compete in the following weight categories:

1) Male Competitors

Younger Children (7–8 years)

• up to 18 kg
• up to 20 kg
• up to 22 kg
• up to 24 kg
• up to 26 kg
• up to 28 kg
• up to 30 kg
• up to 32 kg
• up to 34 kg
• up to 36 kg
• up to 39 kg
• over 39 kg

Older Children (9–10 years)

• up to 24 kg
• up to 26 kg
• up to 28 kg
• up to 30 kg
• up to 32 kg
• up to 34 kg
• up to 36 kg
• up to 39 kg
• up to 42 kg
• up to 45 kg
• up to 48 kg
• over 48 kg

Younger Boys (11–12 years)

• up to 30 kg
• up to 33 kg
• up to 36 kg
• up to 39 kg
• up to 42 kg
• up to 45 kg
• up to 48 kg
• up to 52 kg
• up to 57 kg
• up to 62 kg
• up to 68 kg
• over 68 kg

Middle Boys (13–14 years)

• up to 36 kg
• up to 39 kg
• up to 42 kg
• up to 45 kg
• up to 48 kg 
• up to 52 kg
• up to 57 kg
• up to 62 kg
• up to 68 kg  
• up to 74 kg
• over 74 kg

Older Boys (15–16 years)

• up to 39 kg
• up to 42 kg
• up to 45 kg
• up to 48 kg
• up to 52 kg
• up to 57 kg
• up to 62 kg
• up to 68 kg
• up to 74 kg
• up to 82 kg
• over 82 kg

Juniors (17–18 years)

• up to 52 kg
• up to 57 kg
• up to 62 kg
• up to 68 kg
• up to 74 kg
• up to 82 kg
• up to 90 kg
• over 90 kg

Adults (19–39 years)

• up to 57 kg
• up to 62 kg
• up to 68 kg
• up to 74 kg
• up to 82 kg
• up to 90 kg
• over 90 kg

Veterans (40 years and older)

• up to 57 kg
• up to 62 kg
• up to 68 kg
• up to 74 kg
• up to 82 kg
• up to 90 kg
• over 90 kg.

2) Female Competitors

Younger Children (7–8 years)

• up to 18 kg
• up to 20 kg
• up to 22 kg
• up to 24 kg
• up to 26 kg
• up to 28 kg
• up to 30 kg
• up to 32 kg
• up to 34 kg
• up to 36 kg
• up to 39 kg
• over 39 kg

Older Children (9–10 years)

• up to 24 kg
• up to 26 kg
• up to 28 kg
• up to 30 kg
• up to 32 kg
• up to 34 kg
• up to 36 kg
• up to 39 kg
• up to 42 kg
• up to 45 kg
• up to 48 kg
• over 48 kg

Younger Girls (11–12 years)

• up to 26 kg
• up to 28 kg
• up to 30 kg
• up to 32 kg
• up to 34 kg
• up to 36 kg
• up to 39 kg
• up to 42 kg
• up to 45 kg
• up to 48 kg
• up to 51 kg

Middle Girls (13–14 years)

• up to 30 kg
• up to 32 kg
• up to 34 kg
• up to 36 kg
• up to 39 kg
• up to 42 kg
• up to 45 kg
• up to 48 kg
• up to 51 kg
• up to 54 kg
• up to 58 kg

Older Girls (15–16 years)

• up to 34 kg
• up to 36 kg
• up to 39 kg
• up to 42 kg
• up to 45 kg
• up to 48 kg
• up to 51 kg
• up to 54 kg
• up to 58 kg
• up to 62 kg
• up to 66 kg

Junior Women (17–18 years)

• up to 39 kg
• up to 42 kg
• up to 45 kg
• up to 48 kg
• up to 51 kg
• up to 54 kg
• up to 58 kg
• up to 62 kg
• up to 66 kg

Adult Women (19–39 years)

• up to 48 kg
• up to 51 kg
• up to 54 kg
• up to 58 kg
• up to 62 kg
• up to 66 kg
• up to 70 kg
• up to 74 kg
• up to 78 kg
• up to 82 kg
• over 82 kg

Veteran Women (40 years and older)

• up to 48 kg
• up to 51 kg
• up to 54 kg
• up to 58 kg
• up to 62 kg
• up to 66 kg
• up to 70 kg
• up to 74 kg
• up to 78 kg
• up to 82 kg
• over 82 kg.

2.4.1.

The place, date, time and procedure of the official weigh-in shall be specified in the Competition Regulations.

2.4.2.

The official weigh-in shall be conducted by a panel of referees appointed by the Chief Referee.

The panel shall consist of:

• the Deputy Chief Referee;
• the Chief Medical Officer;
• the Chief Secretary of the competition;
• the Deputy Chief Secretary.

The results of the weigh-in shall be recorded in the Official Weigh-In Protocol.

2.4.3.

The official weigh-in shall be conducted once for each weight category either on the day of competition or on the preceding day.

The weigh-in shall last one (1) hour and shall be completed not later than one (1) hour before the beginning of the competition.

2.4.4.

During the one (1) hour preceding the official weigh-in, competitors shall be entitled to check their body weight using the official competition scales.

2.4.5. Before the official weigh-in, competitors shall undergo a medical examination conducted by the competition physician.

Competitors shall be weighed as follows:

• men — wearing briefs;
• women — wearing swimsuits.

2.4.6.

Each athlete (male or female) may compete in only one weight category, corresponding to his or her body weight recorded during the official weigh-in.

2.4.7.

All competitors within the same weight category shall be weighed using the same official scales.

2.4.8.

Any competitor who fails to appear for the official weigh-in within the prescribed time shall not be admitted to the competition.

2.5.1.

For the Classic and Light Gi disciplines, the competitor’s uniform shall consist of:

● a Combat Sambo competition jacket with a belt;

● athletic shorts;

● Combat Sambo footwear with soft soles;

● protective headgear.

2.5.2.

For the Pro-Full and Light No-Gi disciplines, the competition jacket shall be replaced by a rashguard shirt.

The competitor’s uniform shall consist of:

● a rashguard shirt;

● athletic shorts;

● protective headgear;

● Combat Sambo footwear with soft soles, where the bout is conducted on a tatami or competition mat.

In Adult Pro-Full bouts conducted in an octagon, eight-sided cage or boxing ring, competitors are permitted to compete without a rashguard shirt and without protective headgear.

2.5.3.

The competition jacket shall be manufactured from cotton fabric, designed with a reinforced construction suitable for gripping techniques, equipped with belt openings, and the sleeves shall fully cover the forearms.

2.5.4. The competition jackets shall be red or blue, and shall be worn together with a belt and athletic shorts of the corresponding colour.

Each competitor shall possess jackets of both colours.

Belts shall, in all cases, be red and blue.

Rashguard shirts shall also be red and blue.

2.5.5.

The use of a mouthguard, soft open-finger gloves designed to allow gripping, a non-metallic groin protector, and, for female competitors, a non-metallic reinforced sports bra and a closed one-piece swimsuit shall be mandatory.

2.5.6.

Competition footwear shall have soft leather soles and soft laces.

In the Pro-Full discipline, adult competitors are permitted to compete without footwear, provided that the bout is conducted in an octagon, eight-sided enclosure, or boxing ring.

2.5.7.

The use of any item of equipment that may cause injury to either competitor is prohibited.

2.5.8. During team competitions, all team members shall participate in the Opening Ceremony, Award Ceremony, and Closing Ceremony wearing identical sports uniforms as determined by the organization represented by the team.

2.6.1.
A competitor shall be obliged to:

1. know and comply with these Rules, the Competition Regulations, and the Competition Programme;
2. promptly and accurately comply with all instructions issued by the referees;
3. report for the bout without delay upon the first call of the Refereeing Board;
4. if unable to continue participating in the competition for any reason, immediately notify the Secretariat through his or her second (coach) or team representative;
5. conduct himself or herself respectfully towards other competitors, referees, officials conducting and servicing the competition, and spectators;
6. shake hands with the opponent on the competition area before the beginning and after the conclusion of the bout; 
7. compete with fingernails cut short, wearing clean and neat sports attire and clean footwear;
8. be informed (against signature) of the prohibition of substances and methods included in the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) Prohibited List in force at the time of the competition.

2.6.2.

A competitor shall have the right to:

1. communicate with the referees through the team representative, and during individual competitions through the second;
2. receive timely information regarding the progress of the competition, the composition of the pairs for the next round, amendments to the competition programme, and other relevant information;
3. receive medical assistance and restore his or her uniform and equipment during one bout for a total period not exceeding three (3) minutes;
4. make use of the services of a second before the bout, during intervals, and after the bout;
5. withdraw from the bout at any stage (at any moment)

2.7.1.

A team shall participate in the competition with the following composition:

● competitors;

● a team representative (coach);

● a team captain,

at the rate of one coach for every eight competitors.

At competitions of the federal level, each team shall include a referee and a medical doctor.

Where a team is unable to ensure the attendance of a referee and a doctor, the team shall reimburse the competition organizers for the expenses incurred in engaging such specialists in the amount established by the Competition Regulations, while responsibility for refereeing and medical services shall be assumed by the organizing body.

2.7.2.

The team representative shall act as the head of the team.

He or she shall be responsible for the discipline of the competitors, ensure their timely attendance at the official weigh-in, and during the competition ensure their proper preparation and timely appearance for each bout.

2.7.3.

The team representative shall attend the drawing of lots and meetings of the Refereeing Board whenever such meetings are held jointly with team representatives.

2.7.4.

The team captain shall be elected from among the competitors. The team captain shall share responsibility with the team representative for maintaining discipline within the team.

2.7.5.

The second shall be appointed by the team representative from among the coaches or the most experienced competitors, subject to the competitor’s agreement, and shall perform his or her duties throughout the bout.

2.7.6.

The team representative, coach, team captain, and second shall be prohibited from interfering with the actions or decisions of the referees or other officials conducting the competition. Any adverse consequences resulting from unauthorized interference shall be subject to fines or other disciplinary measures.

2.8.1.

During the competition, team representatives, coaches and seconds shall remain only in the areas specifically designated for the performance of their official duties.

2.8.2.

Any team representative, coach or second who, by words or gestures, incites or encourages spectators to commit acts of disorder during a bout shall be relieved of his or her duties until the conclusion of the bout and, after such removal, shall be required to take a place in the spectators’ area.

2.8.3.

During the bout, the second shall have a towel in his or her possession. If the second decides to stop the bout on behalf of the competitor, he or she shall clearly announce “Stop!” and simultaneously throw a white towel onto the competition area.

2.8.4.

In the event of repeated violations by a team of the provisions of Clauses 2.7.2, 2.7.6, 2.8.1, 2.8.2, or any other provisions of these Rules, the Refereeing Board shall have the authority to suspend or remove the team from the competition.

2.8.5.

Organizations represented by teams that have committed disciplinary violations during Combat Sambo competitions shall be subject to a fine equal to the amount of the annual membership fee.

The fine shall be paid within ten (10) calendar days from the date on which it is imposed.

Failure to pay the fine within the prescribed period shall result in the disqualification of the team. 

2.8.6.

Organizations represented by teams that have committed disciplinary violations during Combat Sambo competitions within twelve (12) months prior to the closing date for the submission of entries shall be required to provide a special security deposit to guarantee payment of possible disciplinary fines.

The amount of such security deposit shall be established by the Competition Regulations.