USA WRESTLING APPROVES RULE ON WEIGHT MANAGEMENT, WHICH BANS RAPID WEIGHT REDUCTION PRACTICES 
  
  
 The Executive Committee of USA Wrestling, the national governing body for amateur wrestling in the United States, approved a "Rapid Weight Reduction Rule" during a conference call on Monday, April 20, 1997.  
   
  
 This rule spells out the practical application of a weight management resolution approved by the USA Wrestling Board of Directors during its semi-annual meeting on February 7. 
   
  
 "What USA Wrestling has said is that we discourage rapid weight reduction and will do everything we can to eliminate it from the sport," said USA Wrestling President Larry Sciacchetano.  
   
  
 Two of the key elements to the rule concerns practices that have been used by some wrestlers for rapid dehydration to make weight. They are:  
  
  
 "With regard to the practice of dehydration, the use of hot rooms, hot showers, hot boxes, saunas, steam rooms, heating devices, diuretics, emetics, laxatives, excessive food and fluid restriction and self-induced vomiting is prohibited by USA Wrestling." 
  
  
 "Regardless of purpose, the use of vapor-impermeable suits (e.g., rubber or rubberized nylon) is prohibited." 
  
  
 The rule also spells out the penalties for violation of the rule. For a first offense, the individual will be suspended from the competition in which the prohibited methods were intended. A second violation will result in the suspension of the individual from any USA Wrestling sanctioned event for one calendar year. 
  
  
 In addition to athletes, the rule applies the same penalties to individuals who assist an athlete in prohibited weight reduction practices. 
  
  
 Events excluded from the rule are Senior-level FILA calendar events and Senior-level FILA "world level championships" and those Senior-level competitions which are qualifying events for Senior-level FILA "world level championships."  
  
 These events are conducted under the rules of FILA, the international wrestling federation, which USA Wrestling does not control. 
   
  
 The issue of weight management in wrestling became a major public issue after the death of three college wrestlers in November and December of 1997.  
   
  
 As the national governing body, USA Wrestling is responsible for the development of amateur wrestling in the United States. USA Wrestling is an Olympic/Pan American Sport Organization of the U.S. Olympic Committee and a member of FILA, the international wrestling federation. 
   
  
 USA Wrestling selects and trains U.S. teams for international competitions, including the Olympic Games and World Championships. USA Wrestling sanctions competitions and programs for men and women of all ages, from youth programs through the Senior level. 
   
  
 In addition to this action, USA Wrestling will continue its leadership role in the Joint Committee to Address Weight Management in Wrestling. USA Wrestling formed this group in December 1997, which includes seven major national organizations that sponsor wrestling competitions. 
  
  
 USA WRESTLING RAPID WEIGHT REDUCTION RULE 
  
  
 Whereas rapid weight reduction "cutting weight" through caloric restriction, dehydration, and excessive exercise in heated environments exposes wrestlers to decreased performance, heat related trauma, and hazard to health and life, USA Wrestling (USAW) has adopted the following rules: 
  
  
 With regard to the practice of dehydration, the use of hot rooms, hot showers, hot boxes, saunas, steam rooms, heating devices, diuretics, emetics, laxatives, excessive food and fluid restriction and self-induced vomiting is prohibited by USA Wrestling. 
  
  
 Regardless of purpose, the use of vapor-impermeable suits (e.g., rubber or rubberized nylon) is prohibited. 
  
  
 Violation of these rules at USAW sanctioned events shall cause the individual(s) in question to be suspended from the competition for which use of the prohibited methods were intended. 
  
  
 Enforcement for this rule shall be the responsibility of the tournament committee which is to be established prior to the competition. The decision of the tournament committee shall be final. 
  
  
 A second event violation will result in the suspension of the individual(s) from any USAW sanctioned event for one calendar year from time of suspension. All second violation cases shall be heard by the appropriate age group executive committee. USAW¹s By-laws shall be considered in all applicable cases. 
  
  
 Any individual assisting an athlete in prohibited weight reduction practices shall be held to the same rules and penalties as athletes. 
  
  
 USAW discourages rapid weight reduction methods under any circumstances. However, events excluded from these rules are Senior-level FILA calendar events and Senior-level FILA "world level championships" and those Senior-level competitions which are qualifying events for Senior-level FILA "world level championships". 
  
  
 Guidelines for Application of the Rule: 
  
   
 1. This rule shall be in effect for all USAW sanctioned events (except those excluded above). 
  
   
 2. The tournament committee of each event must put its decision in writing to both the offending party and the USA Wrestling National Office. 
  
  
 3. The rule will be posted/distributed at the competition venue(s), weigh-in site(s), practice venue(s), host hotel(s), training site(s) and official housing facilities(s). In addition, announcements will be made on the public address system throughout the weigh-ins, if possible, and during the competition.