In a recent turn of events, Ebanie Bridges, former world champion in boxing, has vehemently condemned USA Boxing’s newly introduced ‘Transgender Policy,’ allowing male boxers transitioning to compete in the female category from 2024.
The governing body, overseeing amateur and Olympic-style boxing in America, disclosed that transgender athletes can partake under specific conditions, including gender identity declaration, completion of gender reassignment surgery, and regular hormone testing.
While boxers under 18 must adhere to their birth gender, transgender fighters can choose their competition category. However, they must meet stringent criteria, involving quarterly hormone testing and documentation submission for at least four years post-surgery.
Bridges, known for her outspoken views, strongly opposes this policy, stating that it is ‘wrong on so many levels’ and poses a threat to biological females.
“This is wrong on so many levels,” she asserted. “It’s bad enough in other sports, but it’s a bit different when it comes to combat sports where the aim is to hurt you, not just break a record.”
The former world champion raises concerns about the potential risks to women’s boxing, emphasizing the importance of health and safety. She contends that the controversial policy may compromise the essence of women’s sports.
“I don’t care about ‘political correctness’; it’s politically incorrect to have a man fighting a woman,” she boldly declared.
Expressing skepticism about the policy’s impact on women’s sports in the long run, Bridges emphasizes the need for solidarity among female athletes. She warns that failure to do so might lead to women’s sports being dominated by male-born champions in the future.
USA Boxing, justifying its move, stated that the policy aims to ensure fairness and safety for all boxers. The decision aligns with the International Olympic Committee’s stance, empowering each sport and its governing body to determine eligibility criteria, particularly in situations where athletes may be at a disadvantage.