Afghanistan's Taliban government has banned mixed martial arts (MMA), deeming it un-Islamic, the country's sports authority said in a communique released on Wednesday. According to the statement and local media, the order was issued by Afghanistan's morality police, part of the Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, following an investigation into the sport's compliance with Islamic law, or Sharia.

"It was found that the sport is problematic in terms of Sharia. It has many aspects that contradict the teachings of Islam," the Taliban government's sports authority said in a statement sent to AFP. "Therefore, it has been decided to ban mixed martial arts in Afghanistan," it added. A sports authority official told local media that MMA was banned in part because it was considered too violent and posed a risk of injury or death.

The Taliban returned to power in 2021 and enforced a strict interpretation of Islamic law. They recently ratified a morality law that formalises many rules of behaviour and dress, including that men cannot wear shorts above the knee. Martial arts are a popular sport in Afghanistan. However, in the case of mixed martial arts, the Taliban government has banned the sport.

The popularity of martial arts in the country is evident. Four of the 11 Afghans who competed at the Paris Games, either on the national team or the refugee Olympic team, were martial arts athletes.

MMA has not been recognised as an Olympic sport, partly due to safety concerns for the athletes. Mixed martial arts is a collection of combat and contact sports. They allow the use of different fighting techniques and styles within a single match. Both striking and submission techniques (on the ground or standing) are allowed.

Originally, the fights were between athletes from different disciplines, such as a judoka against a boxer, or karate or jiu-jitsu practitioners. The origins can be traced back to ancient Greece, specifically to the Olympic Games, which began in 708 BC. These were hand-to-hand fights with almost no rules, often resulting in the death of one of the competitors.

Drawing on professional wrestling and pankration, as well as Japanese shoot wrestling and Brazilian vale tudo (anything goes), what we know today as mixed martial arts was born.

Sports used in MMA As an amalgamation of different combat and contact sports, MMA includes various disciplines. Competitors may be experts in one of these sports, but to be more well-rounded, they must train in other disciplines.

Jiu-jitsu, boxing, judo, Muay Thai, wrestling, karate, taekwondo and kickboxing are among the sports used in mixed martial arts. Shorts and gloves are worn by the fighters. Some competitors also use knee or ankle wraps.