UFC fighters are not allowed to wager on UFC fights, the promotion introduced to its athletes in a Monday memo.
Performing on what it stated was “clear path” from sports activities betting regulators, the UFC has amended its Code of Conduct – to which all fighters agree once they signal a struggle contract – to ban wagering on octagon fights, UFC Chief Enterprise Officer Hunter Campbell wrote within the memo obtained by MMA Combating and first reported by Yahoo! Sports.
The brand new rule additionally bars members of fighters’ groups and “sure others” from betting, although it’s not instantly clear how the promotion will police these affected by the change. Campbell cited restrictions in different states that fully forbid athletes, their households and “coaching groups” from betting on sports activities they play, threatening legal fees for inside info that might be used for illegal achieve.
“The UFC’s contracted athletes should not exempt from these prohibitions, which state legislators and regulators have carried out for the aim of sustaining the integrity of our sport,” Campbell wrote. “To be able to help our athletes in understanding their obligations beneath the legal guidelines of nearly all of states during which sports activities betting is permitted, and in additional help of those integrity measures, UFC has included a wagering prohibition into the UFC Athlete Conduct Coverage expressly prohibiting athletes from wagering on any UFC match.”
Fighters should not forbidden from wagering on non-UFC promotions, and Campbell wrote that they’re nonetheless allowed to simply accept sponsorships from sports activities betting corporations; he stated the promotion will assist fighters decide the restrictions of their dwelling states.
A number of UFC fighters have publicly disclosed bets on octagon fights and touted wins; UFC middleweight Derek Brunson is amongst these to put up betting slips.
The UFC carried out a Code of Conduct in 2013 after a number of cases of unhealthy public habits from fighters, however the promotion has not enforced the code in recent times. The code prohibits fighters from, amongst different issues, appearing in a approach that will embarrass or discredit the UFC, nevertheless it additionally extends to points with the legislation together with harassment, gun crimes and home violence. A number of years after the coverage was carried out, the UFC shifted to creating selections on violations primarily based on inner investigations and later to the authorized system, deferring any punishment to courts.
At UFC 279, a number of pay-per-view headliners – Nate Diaz, Khamzat Chimaev and Kevin Holland – engaged in a fracas that put all of them in violation of the code. UFC President Dana White, nonetheless, stated not one of the fighters can be sanctioned.
Beneath is the total textual content of Campbell’s memo.
From: Hunter Campbell, UFC Chief Enterprise Officer
To: All Athletes and Managers
We’re writing to advise you of a change to the UFC Athlete Conduct Coverage to which every UFC athlete subscribes beneath our Promotion Settlement and/or Ancillary Rights Settlement. As you realize, the UFC Athlete Conduct Coverage requires UFC’s contracted athletes to behave in a authorized, moral, and accountable method and keep away from conduct detrimental to the integrity of the UFC group. In mild of clear path that we now have obtained from regulators liable for the regulated sports activities betting trade in the US, we’re compelled at the moment to acknowledge within the UFC Athlete Conduct Coverage sure restrictions regarding wagering by our athletes, members of their groups and sure others.
As you could already remember, most states during which regulated sports activities betting is carried out prohibit athletes from wagering on promotions or occasions with which they’re affiliated. Many states additionally lengthen this prohibition to the athletes’ coaching groups, relations and others which have entry to “inside info” regarding the athletes and their occasions. In some cases, violations of those prohibitions may end in legal fees. The UFC’s contracted athletes should not exempt from these prohibitions, which state legislators and regulators have carried out for the aim of sustaining the integrity of our sport. To be able to help our athletes in understanding their obligations beneath the legal guidelines of nearly all of states during which sports activities betting is permitted, and in additional help of those integrity measures, UFC has included a wagering prohibition into the UFC Athlete Conduct Coverage expressly prohibiting athletes from wagering on any UFC match. Now we have additionally offered some extra info to help athletes figuring out the potential scope of state-imposed wagering restrictions on others. Observe: This coverage doesn’t prohibit UFC athletes from coming into into sponsorship agreements with sports activities betting corporations. UFC athletes could proceed to pursue such sponsorships in accordance with relevant legislation.
We admire your dedication to our sport and your efforts to make sure its integrity. If in case you have any questions concerning the UFC Athlete Conduct Coverage, you could contact me.
Please click on right here to evaluation the total code of conduct, together with new modification on wagering.
Thanks.
