Transgender boxers would be ringfenced in new category
by James Beal, The Times:
Boxing is to try to introduce a category solely for transgender fighters next year, to prevent anyone born a man ever fighting a woman in the ring.
The head of the World Boxing Council (WBC) said it would put out a “global call” for trans athletes in 2023, with the aim of setting up their own separate league or tournament.
Boxing is to look to adopt the “at birth” rule, meaning a trans fighter born a man would only be able to compete against a fellow trans fighter born a man.
Under the rule, trans athletes will not be allowed to compete against non-trans fighters.
Mauricio Sulaimán, president of the WBC, said his sport needed to look closely at the transgender issue for “safety and inclusion” reasons.
He told The Times: “We voted unanimously not to allow any born man to fight a born woman. That is the main thing — we will never allow a born man against a born woman inside the ring. But with inclusion, we’re creating a programme so transgender athletes can box if they desire to do so – man against man, woman against woman.
“When it comes to a contact sport, it is absolutely impossible to accept a man punching a woman. It is very dangerous.”
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