01/25/17- Pre Tournament Reminder for Wrestling – Skin Checks

January 26, 2017 Wrestling Blog Updates

It has been reported to the office that some schools are confused as to who would have the final say (in an event with multiple physicians present) as to whether a wrestler may or may not participate due to a skin condition. You are reminded that the regional managers have been directed to designate an on-site meet appropriate health-care professional to make that determination and to report that designation to this office. The person designated by the regional manager will have the sole, final and unappealable decision-making authority in these cases, by rule.

It should also be noted that UK Sports Medicine will once again provide Doctors at the State Championships to help with that process. These doctors as designated by the KHSAA staff will have the sole, final and unappealable decision-making authority in these cases, by rule.

In case needed, please familiarize yourself with NFHS Wrestling Rules 4-2-3, 4-2-4 and 4-2-5 which states:

“ART. 3 . . . If a participant is suspected by the referee or coach of having a communicable skin disease or any other condition that makes participation appear inadvisable, the coach shall provide current written documentation as defined by the NFHS or the state associations, from an appropriate health-care professional stating that the suspected disease or condition is not communicable and that the athlete’s participation would not be harmful to any opponent. This document shall be furnished at the weigh-in for the dual meet or tournament. The only exception would be if a designated, on-site meet appropriate health-care professional is present and is able to examine the wrestler either immediately prior to or immediately after the weigh-in. Covering a communicable condition shall not be considered acceptable and does not make the wrestler eligible to participate.”

“ART. 4 . . . If a designated on-site meet appropriate health-care professional is present, he/she may overrule the diagnosis of the appropriate health-care professional signing the medical release form for a wrestler to participate or not participate with a particular skin condition.”

“ART. 5 . . . A contestant may have documentation from an appropriate health-care professional only indicating a specific condition such as a birthmark or other non-communicable skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema, and that documentation is valid for the duration of the season. It is valid with the understanding that a chronic condition could become secondarily infected and may require re-evaluation.”

– KHSAA –

The KHSAA staff routinely publishes blog posts to better communicate with its various constituencies and the public. For a list of those blogs, go to http://khsaa.org/news-stats-pubs/sports-blogs/