Neurologist Tells Parliament Face-Slapping and Collision Running Can Kill
A NSW inquiry examines whether new combat events like Run Nation and Power Slap need stricter medical rules.
By Samir Doyle ·
Death is a distinct possibility for competitors in collision running and face-slapping contests, according to a neurologist who testified before a New South Wales parliamentary inquiry. Dr. Rowena Mobbs, a specialist in concussion and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, stated that she could not identify a modification that would make these high-impact activities safer. She compared the physical force involved to a coward punch or a king-hit in rugby.
The inquiry is evaluating whether events such as Run Nation and Power Slap should be classified as combat sports. Run Nation involves two participants charging into one another at high speed, while Power Slap contests consist of alternating blows to the face. Mobbs warned that the sheer force of these impacts could trigger neurodegenerative diseases with fewer hits than those seen in traditional football or boxing. She noted that participants in these events cannot defend themselves and receive blows to a particularly vulnerable area of the head.
The push for regulation follows a legal dispute over a planned Sydney Run Nation event. In September, a Supreme Court judge ruled that Run Nation was a combat sport and upheld a cancellation notice from the NSW Combat Sports Authority. The event has since been rescheduled for 28 November after the authority’s medical board approved its permit. Power Slap has not yet held an official event in Australia. A 19-year-old man in New Zealand died last year after a head injury sustained in a tackling game inspired by the viral 'run it straight' challenge.
Darren Kane, chair of the NSW Combat Sports Authority, supported placing new events under existing combat sports rules. He argued that regulation would mandate ambulance coverage, medical personnel, and concussion training for organizers. Kane stated that unregulated events often lack these critical safeguards. Run Nation organizers told the inquiry that doctors and paramedics are present on the field at their events, though they did not provide formal evidence. The inquiry has received submissions from medical specialists, bareknuckle boxing representatives, and grassroots combat sports groups.
The cost of compliance remains a concern for smaller operators. Petero Taremwa, founder of the Get That Guap fight club, testified that mandatory on-site ambulance costs are unreasonable for entry-level organizers. Taremwa, who stages mixed martial arts, kickboxing, and boxing bouts without a promoter’s licence, reported no significant injuries at his events. He noted that a nurse who also serves as the DJ checks fighters after each match. Taremwa said he wanted a realistic path to meeting regulatory requirements without excessive financial burdens.
Sarah Kaine, the Labor MLC chairing the inquiry, questioned Taremwa on the balance between safety and cost. Mobbs added that repeated impacts without obvious symptoms can accumulate over time and lead to brain disease. The inquiry is expected to release its final findings in December.
