RULES IN BRIEF Fingernails must be short Freshly-grown beards are banned Hair must be short or tied back Skin must be dry and free from sweat at the start of bouts Use of grease or creams is forbidden Jewellery is banned A handkerchief must be carried at all times Street-fighting skills are frowned upon: it is forbidden to pull hair, ears or genitals, nor must a wrestler bite or pinch, twist an opponent's fingers or toes, kick, head-butt, strangle, touch the opponent's face between eyebrows and mouth, hold him by the trunks or push an elbow or knee into the stomach Wrestlers are not allowed to speak to each other during bouts Bouts can be stopped by the attendant doctor A fall at the edge of the mat counts only if the opponent's shoulders are within the passivity zone If a wrestler enters the protection area, the bout is stopped and restarted Two offences of passivity results in the loss of a point; passivity is judged when a wrestler fails to attempt a hold or obstructs his opponent to prevent proper wrestling A point is awarded to an opponent when a second warning is given for an illegal hold Freestyle wrestlers are forbided to use a scissor lock, where the feet cross around the head, neck or body A Greco-Roman wrestler must accompany his opponent when one falls to the mat Cheating and brutality result in disqualification Protests can be lodged within 30 minutes of the end of a bout. Bouts are refought if a protest is upheld