Who decides when an injured wrestler can continue?

Under the 2026 WCL Rulebook (Articles 6 and 8):

• The event physician can stop a bout when there is danger to either athlete and has sole authority to decide whether an athlete may continue. Without a physician, the event medical personnel decide.
• With no medically qualified personnel present, the head official may prevent an injured athlete from continuing, but cannot force an athlete to continue against their wishes.
• A team physician or team medical personnel may treat their own athlete, but the final decision on continuing rests with the event physician or medical personnel.
• The athlete stays on the mat for treatment unless the physician directs otherwise, and the physician may stop the match before the injury or blood time limits end. The decision to continue must be made within the time allocated.
• An athlete withdrawn for medical reasons must be re-assessed and cleared in writing by the event physician before wrestling later matches.
• A medical withdrawal needs a completed medical withdrawal form signed by event medical personnel for the athlete to be ranked on points earned; without it the withdrawal counts as a forfeit with no final placement.
• At medical control the physician eliminates athletes with a contagious skin disorder or an ailment that prevents them competing safely. Braces must have no rigid, abrasive or sharp parts (such as metal or hard plastic) and are approved at medical control or weigh-in.