General. The referee shall have the authority to: Supervise, generally, a boxing, kickboxing, or mixed martial arts contest; Decide all matters arising during a boxing, kickboxing, or mixed martial arts contest that are not specified in these regulations. Referee's Authority. The referee may stop a boxing, kickboxing, or mixed martial arts contest during or between rounds for any of the following reasons: Injury to a contestant; Poor physical conditioning of a contestant; Disqualification of a contestant for not participating in earnest; or Unsafe ring or fenced area conditions. The referee shall give a contestant sufficient time to recuperate when the contestant is incapacitated by a low blow or other fouling tactic. Referee's Duties. A referee may touch a contestant only if the contestant fails to obey a command to break. In addition to the knockdown procedure described in COMAR 09.14.06.11, the referee shall: Begin a knockdown count for any contestant who leaves the ring or fenced area during the 1-minute rest period between rounds and does not resume participation when the bell signals the beginning of a round; Begin a knockdown count for any contestant who is knocked out or falls out of the ring or fenced area during a round and fails to return immediately to the ring or fenced area; and Remove the mouthpiece of a contestant after the knockdown count. A referee shall warn a contestant and the contestant's manager or chief second in a clear and distinct manner that persistent fouling will result in a penalty before a referee assesses a penalty point. Medical Standards for Referees. A referee annually shall submit to the Commission certification of the following medical examinations: A comprehensive physical; An ophthalmological evaluation as defined in COMAR 09.14.04.02A; and A neurological test as defined in COMAR 09.14.04.03A which is performed by a neurologist or neurosurgeon. The Senior Physician shall determine the appropriate medical documentation for nonresident applicant referees. A referee may not officiate in a contest if any of the following physical conditions are found: Conditions specified in COMAR 09.14.04.04B(1)—(8) and (10)—(11); Uncorrected visual acuity that is less than 20/40; Peripheral vision that is less than 100 percent; or Abnormalities suggestive of acute, subacute, or chronic nervous system abnormalities.