New South Wales inquiry warns death a distinct possibility in impact sports

A New South Wales parliamentary inquiry is examining whether emerging combat sports require stricter oversight as experts raise serious alarms over participant safety. Lawmakers are reviewing events such as Run Nation, where competitors run directly at each other to collide at high speeds, and Power Slap, which features participants taking turns striking each other across the face. Concussion specialists have warned that these activities share similarities with coward punches and that death is a distinct possibility for participants.

Dr Rowena Mobbs, a neurologist specializing in concussion and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, told the inquiry that she does not believe any regulatory modification can make these specific competitions safe. She compared the severity of the impacts to king-hits, noting that participants have no opportunity to defend themselves against the strikes. While traditional football codes and standard combat sports often accumulate damage through thousands of subclinical impacts over time, Mobbs explained that the intense force in collision running and face-slapping could trigger neurodegenerative diseases from far fewer strikes.

Intense contact sports carry a distinct possibility of death from severe head impacts.

The parliamentary review was initiated following legal disputes regarding classification. A New South Wales supreme court judge previously ruled that Run Nation constituted a combat sport, which upheld a cancellation notice from the Combat Sports Authority for a scheduled Sydney event. The competition was later rescheduled after receiving approval from the medical advisory board of the authority. Meanwhile, Power Slap has not yet staged an official event within Australia.

Representatives from grassroots combat sports also shared perspectives with the inquiry regarding the financial burdens of compliance. Organizers highlighted that expenses related to permits, insurance, venues, and mandated medical services create substantial barriers for entry-level participants and promoters attempting to meet regulatory standards.

Why it matters

The parliamentary inquiry highlights the ongoing tension between establishing robust safety measures for emerging contact sports and the financial practicality of regulatory compliance for smaller event organizers. The outcome could reshape how high-impact recreational competitions are classified and monitored across Australia.