Daugaard opposes athletic commission bill print
Friday, 25 January 2013 12:23
Governor Daugaard says he opposes a bill that would create a state athletic commission, because it would recognize mixed martial arts as a sport.  The Senate State Affairs Committee today approved a bill that would create such a commission to supervise boxing, kick boxing and M-M-A.   The bill's main sponsor, Senator Mark Johnston of Sioux Falls, says those fights need to be regulated to protect the safety of athletes.    Daugaard says such a move would legitimize M-M-A fights which the Republican governor says are so violent they don't deserve to be called sports.  Daugaard says he's offended that the state would legitimize what he calls cage fighting.