As you likely have heard by now, Brock Lesnar was notified last week of a potential anti-doping violation after his fight at UFC 200. Many have wondered how this would effect Brock’s status for Summerslam. Would the WWE allow him to compete if it turns out to be true? Summerslam is in Brooklyn, New York so would the New York State Athletic Commission allow for him to participate if he gets suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission? WrestlingInc reached out to the New York State Athletic Commission and received a statement regarding Brock Lesnar participating at Summerslam.
Here was the statement:
“In 2002, New York State passed legislation that scaled back the regulation of “professional wrestling” in many respects based on a recognition that the activity is entertainment rather than bona-fide athletic competition. Under current New York State law, “professional wrestling” is defined as wrestling “primarily for the purpose of providing entertainment to spectators and which does not comprise a bona fide athletic contest or competition” (NY Unconsolidated Laws section 8928-b[1]). As such, the State does not license individual wrestlers, and Mr. Lesnar is not a licensee of the New York State Athletic Commission. In the context of “professional wrestling,” as defined above, the State licenses only the promoter, such as the WWE. Per New York law, among other health and safety requirements that apply to the licensing of a promoter, the event promoter is required to have a physician examine each wrestler and determine whether each wrestler is medically fit to participate.
The question of whether Mr. Lesnar is fit to participate in a “professional wrestling” event is one that will be determined by the application of the professional medical judgment of the examining physician, the policies of the WWE, and the choices made by Mr. Lesnar with regard to his own participation leading up to the event date” (Source: WrestlingInc).
In other words, the NYSAC wouldn’t suspend Brock if he receives an MMA suspension as they don’t license individual wrestlers. It will be up to the WWE, the WWE doctor and Lesnar himself. In other words he will likely still be wrestling at Summerslam.
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