UFBF Federation Rules

RULES GOVERNING THE ACTIVITIES AND PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS EVENTS OF THE UNITED BODYBUILDING & FITNESS FEDERATION OF UKRAINE (UFBF UA)

Decision of the Authorized Body of the Public Organization

“United Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation of Ukraine”

Kyiv 11 July 2026

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1. Legal Status and Scope

1.1.1. The Public Organization “United Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation of Ukraine” (hereinafter referred to as the “Federation” or “UFBF UA”) is an all-Ukrainian public organization operating in the field of bodybuilding, fitness, and the development of physical culture and sport in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine, the Federation’s Charter, and its internal regulatory documents.

1.1.2. The Federation organizes and conducts sporting events, championships, cups, tournaments, educational, informational, and other events within the scope of its authority.

1.1.3. These Rules establish the fundamental principles and conditions for participation in Federation events, requirements for athletes and other participants, judging procedures, standards of conduct, disciplinary liability, medical provisions, and general provisions concerning photo, video, and media materials.

1.1.4. These Rules are binding upon athletes, coaches, judges, officials, team representatives, members of the Federation, partners, and other persons who participate in Federation events or are present within the event venue in an appropriate professional or organizational capacity.

1.1.5. These Rules shall apply together with the Federation’s Charter, Code of Ethics, Regulations on the conduct of championships, event regulations, and other internal documents of the Federation.

1.2. Acceptance of the Rules

1.2.1. Registration for a Federation event, submission of an application for participation, issuance of a digital license, completion of registration procedures, or actual participation in an event constitutes confirmation that the person has read these Rules and agrees to comply with them to the extent permitted by the legislation of Ukraine.

1.2.2. An athlete shall also comply with the Regulations governing the relevant championship, technical regulations, rules of the applicable sports category, and lawful requirements of judges and officials.

1.2.3. Lack of knowledge of these Rules shall not exempt a participant from the obligation to comply with them.

2. MEMBERSHIP AND ATHLETE REGISTRATION

2.1. Registration

2.1.1. In order to participate in Federation events, an athlete must complete the registration procedure established by the Federation.

2.1.2. Registration shall be carried out through the Federation’s information system or by another method determined by the organizers of the relevant event.

2.1.3. An athlete shall provide accurate and up-to-date personal, contact, and sports-related information.

2.1.4. If inaccurate or false information is identified, the Federation shall have the right to require its correction, refuse registration, deny the athlete participation, or apply appropriate disciplinary measures.

2.2. UFBF ATHLETE LICENSE

2.2.1. For the identification of athletes and maintenance of athlete records, the Federation uses a digital registration system and the UFBF ATHLETE LICENSE, a digital athlete license issued by UFBF.

2.2.2. The UFBF ATHLETE LICENSE is a personal electronic identifier of an athlete within the Federation’s information system.

2.2.3. The digital license shall be issued for a period determined by the Federation and may be renewed in accordance with the established procedure.

2.2.4. If the Regulations governing a specific event require a valid UFBF ATHLETE LICENSE, an athlete shall be admitted to participation only upon fulfillment of this requirement.

2.2.5. The UFBF ATHLETE LICENSE may not be transferred to another person and may be used exclusively by the athlete to whom it was issued.

3. CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION IN COMPETITIONS

3.1. Participation in Federation competitions is voluntary.

3.2. By registering to participate in a competition, an athlete confirms that they are aware of the nature of the physical exertion involved and of the risks that may arise during preparation, performance, and attendance at the sporting event.

3.3. The athlete shall independently assess their physical condition and, where necessary, undergo an appropriate medical examination prior to participating in competitions.

3.4. The athlete shall disclose any circumstances that may prevent their safe participation in competitions, to the extent required or permitted by the legislation of Ukraine.

3.5.The Federation, organizers, judges, officials, and partners shall not be liable for consequences arising from an athlete’s concealment of information concerning their health condition, failure to comply with safety requirements, medical recommendations, or established rules, except where liability is expressly provided for by the legislation of Ukraine.

3.6. The Federation shall have the right to establish additional participation requirements for a specific championship or category.

3.7. An athlete shall be admitted to competition only after completing all mandatory procedures established by the regulations governing the relevant event.

4. JUDGING AND OFFICIALS

4.1. Formation of the Judging Panel

4.1.1. The judging panel shall be formed and approved by the authorized management of the Federation.

4.1.2. Only persons who meet the Federation’s qualification requirements and hold valid status, certification, or another document confirming the relevant qualification may participate in judging.

4.1.3. The Federation shall have the right to appoint the Head Judge, judging tables, technical judges, and other officials necessary for the conduct of a specific event.

4.2. Independence of Judging

4.2.1. Judging shall be conducted in accordance with the approved evaluation criteria applicable to the relevant category.

4.2.2. Judges shall perform their evaluations independently and shall be responsible for carrying out their functions within the scope of the authority established by the Federation.

4.2.3. Any direct or indirect influence on judges with the purpose of altering competition results is prohibited.

4.2.4. Threats, pressure, insults, provocation, confrontational conduct, and any other interference with the work of the judging panel are prohibited.

4.2.5. Contact with judges while they are performing their official duties shall be permitted only in accordance with the procedure established by the regulations governing the relevant event.

5. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF ATHLETES

5.1. An Athlete Has the Right To:

participate in competitions provided that all established requirements are fulfilled;
receive information concerning registration and event procedures;
know the evaluation criteria applicable to the relevant category;
receive the official results of their performance;
submit requests, complaints, and appeals in accordance with the procedure established by the Federation;
receive awards and prizes in accordance with the official results and the conditions of the relevant event;
exercise other rights provided for by the legislation of Ukraine, the Federation’s Charter, and its internal documents.

5.2. An Athlete Shall:

comply with these Rules, the Charter, the Code of Ethics, and the Federation’s regulations;
complete registration within the established deadlines;
arrive on time for registration, backstage procedures, verification, and their category’s performance;
comply with the lawful requirements of judges, organizers, and officials;
observe the principles of sportsmanship and appropriate sporting conduct;
respect other athletes, judges, coaches, officials, partners, and Federation personnel;
refrain from interfering with the conduct of competitions;
provide accurate documents and information;
comply with established requirements concerning appearance, stage preparation, backstage procedures, and other organizational requirements.

5.3. An athlete’s late arrival or failure to appear for registration, verification, or performance without a valid reason may constitute grounds for denial of participation or disqualification.

5.4. If an athlete is denied participation or disqualified as a result of violating established requirements, the registration fee shall not be refunded unless otherwise provided by the Regulations governing the relevant event.

6. PROHIBITED CONDUCT

6.1. During Federation Events, the Following Actions Are Prohibited:

attempting to influence judges or officials;
exerting pressure on the judging panel;
threatening, insulting, or provoking judges, athletes, coaches, or officials;
violating established lines of authority and professional conduct;
displaying aggressive, offensive, or unsportsmanlike behavior;
intentionally obstructing the work of organizers;
interfering with the work of the judging panel;
using profanity toward representatives of the Federation in connection with the performance of their official duties;
disseminating knowingly false information concerning the Federation, its events, judges, officials, or partners;
engaging in actions intentionally aimed at discrediting the Federation or its representatives;
using the Federation’s symbols, name, brand, or official materials without appropriate authorization where such authorization is required;
violating safety requirements or the internal rules governing the conduct of an event.

6.2. The provisions of this section shall apply both to conduct during physical attendance at an event and to public actions on the Internet, where such actions are directly related to the activities of the Federation, its events, or its official representatives.

7. DISCIPLINARY LIABILITY AND SANCTIONS

7.1. Grounds for Sanctions

7.1.1. The Federation shall have the right to impose disciplinary measures in the event of an established violation of:

these Rules;
the Code of Ethics;
the Regulations governing the relevant event;
Federation regulations;
lawful requirements of judges or officials;
standards of sporting conduct;
procedures governing the conduct of competitions.

7.1.2. Grounds for disciplinary measures may include, in particular:

unsportsmanlike conduct;
insults or threats;
aggressive behavior;
attempts to influence judges;
interference with the work of judges;
refusal to comply with lawful decisions of officials;
intentional obstruction of the conduct of competitions;
dissemination of knowingly false information;
discrediting the Federation or its official representatives;
repeated violations of these Rules;
other actions that constitute disciplinary violations under the Federation’s internal documents.

7.2. Types of Sanctions

7.2.1. Depending on the nature and severity of the violation, the Federation may impose the following sanctions:

warning;
official reprimand;
denial of participation in the current event;
disqualification;
annulment of results;
revocation of a title or award where provided for by the applicable regulations;
temporary suspension from participation in events;
prohibition from participating in future events for a specified period;
revocation of an internal Federation status or distinction;
suspension or termination of membership in the Federation in accordance with the Charter and internal documents.

7.3. Prize Payments

7.3.1. If, after the completion of a competition but before the payment of prize money, an athlete is found to have violated these Rules and such violation may affect the athlete’s entitlement to prize money, the Federation shall have the right to suspend payment until the relevant matter has been reviewed and resolved.

7.3.2. If an athlete has received prize money and a violation is subsequently established which, under these Rules or the applicable regulations, constitutes grounds for annulment of the athlete’s result, title, or award, the Federation shall have the right to demand the return of the paid funds in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine and the terms of the relevant event.

7.3.3. The return of prize money shall be made on the basis of a relevant decision of the Federation and/or another legal basis provided for by the legislation of Ukraine.

7.4. Procedure for Decision-Making

7.4.1. Decisions concerning the application of disciplinary sanctions shall be made by the authorized bodies or officials of the Federation in accordance with the Charter, these Rules, and the Federation’s internal documents.

7.4.2. When reviewing a disciplinary matter, the following circumstances may be taken into consideration:

the nature of the violation;
the degree of fault;
the consequences of the violation;
the existence of documentary, photographic, video, audio, or other evidence;
whether the violation was repeated;
the athlete’s conduct following the violation;
other material circumstances.

7.4.3. The Federation shall have the right to use evidence recorded during events, on the Internet, on social media, in messaging applications, and from other sources, provided that such evidence is relevant to the matter under review and may be duly assessed.

8. MEDICAL RISKS AND LIABILITY

8.1. The athlete acknowledges the physical exertion and risks associated with participation in competitions, including the possibility of injury, deterioration of health, or other complications.
8.2. The athlete shall be independently responsible for their physical preparation and health condition to the extent established by the legislation of Ukraine.
8.3. Medical insurance, medical examinations, treatment, rehabilitation, and other related expenses shall be borne by the athlete unless otherwise provided by the conditions of a specific event or by agreement.
8.4. A medical professional or other authorized person shall have the right to remove an athlete from participation where circumstances arise that may pose a threat to the athlete’s life or health or to the safety of other participants.
8.5. Termination of an athlete’s participation for medical reasons shall not constitute a disciplinary sanction.
8.6. The Federation recommends that athletes undergo an appropriate medical examination before participating in competitions and ensure that they have no contraindications to intensive physical activity.

9. PERSONAL DATA

9.1. By registering in the Federation’s system, an athlete provides the personal data necessary for registration, identification, and organization of participation in sporting events.

9.2. Personal data shall be processed in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine on the protection of personal data.

9.3. Personal data may be processed for the following purposes:

athlete registration;
identification of the individual;
issuance of the UFBF ATHLETE LICENSE;
organization and conduct of competitions;
preparation of start lists;
preparation and publication of official results;
maintenance of sports statistics;
communication with the athlete;
organization of award ceremonies;
performance of other tasks directly related to the activities of the Federation.

9.4. The athlete shall provide accurate data and promptly notify the Federation of any changes to such data.

9.5. The procedure for the processing, storage, and protection of personal data may additionally be established by a separate Privacy Policy of the Federation.

10. MEDIA RIGHTS AND PHOTO AND VIDEO RECORDING

10.1. Photo, video, television, and other forms of recording may be carried out during Federation events.

10.2. By participating in a public sporting event, a participant consents to the creation of photographs and video recordings of their participation in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine.

10.3. The Federation shall have the right to use photographs, video recordings, and other materials created during events for the following purposes:

coverage of the Federation’s activities;
publication of competition results;
informational materials;
social media;
the official website;
presentations;
advertising and marketing materials of the Federation;
archival purposes;
promotion of bodybuilding and fitness.

10.4. To the extent permitted by the legislation of Ukraine, the Federation may use an athlete’s name, sports category, result, title, photographs, and video materials related to the athlete’s participation in an event.

10.5. The use of an individual’s image and other materials shall be carried out in compliance with the requirements of the legislation of Ukraine concerning the right to one’s image, personal data, and other personal non-property rights.

10.6. Copyright and other proprietary rights to photographs, video recordings, and other creative materials shall be determined in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine and agreements with the respective authors, photographers, videographers, or contractors.

10.7. The Federation shall not acquire ownership rights to personal photographs or video recordings created independently by an athlete unless otherwise expressly provided by an agreement.

11. OFFICIAL RESULTS, TITLES, AND AWARDS

11.1. Official results shall be deemed to be the results approved by the judging panel and/or the authorized management of the Federation in accordance with the regulations governing the relevant event.
11.2. Titles and awards, including medals, cups, diplomas, and other distinctions, shall be granted in accordance with the official results.
11.3. If a violation is established after the completion of a competition, the Federation shall have the right to review an athlete’s result and, where provided for by these Rules or the applicable regulations, revoke the relevant title, award, or result.
11.4. Information concerning official results may be published on the Federation’s official information resources.

12. APPEALS AND DISPUTES

12.1. An athlete shall have the right to submit an appeal or request to the Federation concerning organizational, judging, or disciplinary matters in accordance with the procedure established by the applicable regulations.
12.2. An appeal or request shall specify the subject matter of the complaint and, where possible, include relevant evidence.
12.3. The procedure, deadlines, and form for submitting appeals may be established by the Regulations governing a specific championship.
12.4. The Federation shall review submissions and make decisions within the scope of its authority.
12.5. Decisions of the Federation shall not deprive participants of their right to protect their rights and legitimate interests in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Ukraine.

13. FINAL PROVISIONS

13.1. Within the scope of its authority, the Federation shall make decisions concerning the organization and conduct of events, judging, disciplinary procedures, and other matters not regulated by these Rules.
13.2. All matters not regulated by these Rules shall be resolved in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine, the Federation’s Charter, Code of Ethics, and other internal regulatory documents of the Federation.
13.3. In the event of a conflict between these Rules and special Regulations governing a specific championship with respect to matters concerning the conduct of that event, the provisions of the special regulations shall apply, provided that they directly regulate the relevant matter and do not contradict the legislation of Ukraine.
13.4. If any provision of these Rules is determined to be inconsistent with the legislation of Ukraine, this shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of these Rules.
13.5. The Federation shall have the right to introduce amendments and additions to these Rules in accordance with the procedure established by the Charter and the Federation’s internal documents.
13.6. The current version of these Rules shall be published on the Federation’s official website: ufbf.org.ua
13.7. These Rules shall enter into force on the date of their approval by the authorized body of the Federation unless the approval decision establishes another effective date.
13.8. Participation in Federation events after these Rules have entered into force constitutes an obligation of the participant to comply with their provisions to the extent permitted by the legislation of Ukraine.

14. CONCLUDING PROVISIONS

14.1. The Federation conducts its activities on the principles of legality, sporting integrity, respect for athletes, fair competition, professional judging, and the development of bodybuilding and fitness in Ukraine.

14.2. Participation in UFBF events constitutes acceptance of the procedures established by the Federation for the conduct of competitions, standards of sporting conduct, and requirements applicable to all participants.

14.3. The Federation reserves the right to take the measures provided for by these Rules and the legislation of Ukraine to ensure the proper, safe, and professional conduct of its sporting events.

APPROVED PURSUANT TO ORDER No. 1/07-2026 dated 11 July 2026

Director of the Public Organization “United Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation of Ukraine” (UFBF UA)

Kurganskyi A. S. Director