California’s State Athletic Commission has told Rek, a startup that calls itself a “humanoid robot fighting league,” that it cannot host fights involving “any human” in the state without permission. The commission sent the company a cease-and-desist letter after Rek hosted a match between a person and a robot last month, according to The New York Times. The warning connects the company’s event to the state’s oversight of athletic competitions and says permission is needed before Rek stages another fight involving a person in California.

The letter puts the focus on whether a human-robot fight falls under California’s rules for athletic events. The commission’s position, as described in the letter, is that Rek cannot hold a bout involving a human in California unless it first receives permission. A bout means a contest or fight between participants. The available report does not specify what permission Rek would need or whether the company has responded, so the exact process and Rek’s next decision remain unknown.

What happened at the September match

The match took place on September 18. It pitted a human against a robot, making it the event that prompted the commission to contact Rek. The report does not say whether the participant fought the robot directly or provide other details about how the match was conducted. It also does not identify the human participant, describe the robot, provide the venue, or give the result of the fight.

Rek is described as a startup and a “humanoid robot fighting league.” That label indicates the company organizes or promotes contests involving humanoid robots, but the report does not provide further details about its business, the technology used in the match, or its plans for future events. The reported event combined a human participant with a robot, which is the feature that brought the commission’s warning into focus.

What the commission’s letter means

A cease-and-desist letter tells a recipient to stop conduct the sender believes is not allowed. It is a warning from the commission, rather than, based on the reported details, a description of a court judgment. In this case, the California State Athletic Commission’s stated warning concerns fights involving a human in California. The wording is broad: Rek cannot host a fight involving “any human” in the state without permission.

The letter does not, based on the reported details, establish that all robot-only competitions are prohibited. Nor does the source say that the commission has issued a formal ruling, imposed a penalty, or taken Rek to court. It reports that the commission sent the letter after the September 18 event. Readers should therefore distinguish the commission’s stated position about human-involved fights from any broader claim about robot competitions, which the report does not make.

The practical next step for Rek would be to address the commission’s permission requirement before holding another event involving a human in California. In practice, that means the company would need to find out what permission the commission requires and whether it can obtain it before scheduling such a bout. The report does not explain the application process, eligibility standards, or timeline for a decision, so those details should not be assumed. It also does not say that Rek has applied or that permission has been granted.

Why the issue matters

The dispute raises a regulatory question about competitions that combine people and robots. California’s athletic regulator has asserted that a human participant brings Rek’s event within its oversight, at least to the extent that the company needs permission to stage the fight in the state. The issue is therefore not simply whether robots can compete, but whether a contest involving a person must meet requirements set by the commission. For organizers considering a similar event in California, the report’s clear point is that the commission says permission is required when a human is involved.

The New York Times reported on the cease-and-desist letter. The available account does not include a statement from Rek or additional details from the commission. It also does not say whether the company intends to seek permission, cancel future human-robot bouts, or challenge the commission’s position. Until those details are reported, the outcome remains open, and the letter alone does not establish what Rek will do next.

The report was published by Jay Peters, a senior reporter covering technology, gaming, and more. Peters joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme. The article was dated October 8, 2026, at 11:06 PM GMT+3. Readers looking for the next development should watch for information about Rek’s response or any further explanation from the commission, since neither is included in the available account.