UWW Regulations for International Transfers February 2025
The current edition, adopted on 4 February 2025 and in force from that date; it clarified the period of validity of a transfer authorisation, imposed a ceiling of two transferred wrestlers per club and abandoned the primacy of the French text.
| Adoption | 4 February 2025 — Bureau of the federation |
| Structure | 13 articles |
| Status | Current edition — governing club transfers |
What is the Regulations for International Transfers?
United World Wrestling's Regulations for International Transfers govern the movement of wrestlers between clubs for participation in club competitions, and differ fundamentally from a change of nationality: here the wrestler's national affiliation remains untouched and only a temporary authorisation to appear for a foreign club is issued. The document defines the parties involved — the wrestler, the club of origin, the receiving club and the national federations of both clubs — sets out the authority competent to issue the authorisation and the documents required, determines the transfer fee on the basis of the wrestler's level of medal achievement, and provides a sanction for direct contact with a wrestler without observance of the required formalities.
About the February 2025 editionChanges from November 2017
Key changes from the previous edition
- Period of validity of the transfer authorisationIt was made explicit that a transfer authorisation is valid until 31 December of the same year, and, for league competitions that run across the turn of the year, until 1 March of the following year. The previous edition had not clarified any such time limit.
- Ceiling of two transferred wrestlers per clubNo club may participate in international club competitions with more than two internationally transferred wrestlers.
- Revision of the fee tableThe levels of medal achievement in the fee table were redefined, and the senior/U23 world and junior (U20) categories replaced the previous division; the figure of 2,500 francs for the highest level remained unchanged.
- Results assessment period and age requirementThe text clarified by way of example that results of the past four years are the relevant criterion (for 2025, meaning from 2021 up to the date of the application), and the minimum age was explained with the example "17 years or older".
- Language of the document: English onlyThe text is now published in English only; the previous rule under which the French version prevailed in the event of a discrepancy was removed.
Who this document matters to
Clubs engaging foreign wrestlers and wrestlers participating in club leagues abroad are directly subject to this text. Three points are decisive in practice: the period of validity of the transfer authorisation, the ceiling on the number of transferred wrestlers a club may field in a competition, and the prohibition on negotiating directly with a wrestler before the formalities have been completed — a breach of which gives rise to disciplinary proceedings.