World Boxing Council recently announced it would be re-examining their attitude towards trans inclusion in boxing.
Once per year, the sanctioning body meets to discuss a range of issues within the sport. This time, trans participation was on the docket.
As of right now there haven’t been trans boxers seeking to box women in most jurisdictions.
Once per year, the sanctioning body meets to discuss a range of issues within the sport. This time, trans participation is on the docket.
World Boxing Council Statement/Guidelines were uploaded online.
The WBC discussed different rules and policies for transgender athletes across different sports.
While the WBC firmly supports trans rights and recognizes gender identity of an individual athlete they admit that fairness must be crucial in any competition – ie two equally matched competitors should be pitted against each other.
WBC recognized that at present there is no consensus whether a bout between a transgender woman against a cisgender (biological) woman is a fair bout between two equally matched competitors. Metric such as testosterone level less than 10 nanomoles per liter (achieved by using testosterone suppression medication in the transgender woman), in isolation is inadequate to ensure fairness at the time off the bout.
It can be argued that by the time a transgender woman combatant launches her professional career she has already gone through male puberty thus conferring her with the musculature and bony structure of a male. So, a transgender woman combatant may have an unfair advantage over her cisgender woman combatant.
The WBC is committed to its value of fair competition. A combat sport bout should occur between two equally matched competitors. At present there is no consensus whether a bout between a transgender man against a cisgender (biological) man is a fair bout between two equally matched competitors.
Metric such as testosterone level in isolation is inadequate to ensure fairness at the time of the bout. It can be argued that by the time a transgender man combatant launches his professional career he has already gone through female puberty thus conferring him with the musculature and bony structure of a female. So, a cisgender male combatant may have an unfair advantage over his transgender male combatant.
5Combat sports such as boxing are unique since every punch thrown at the head is thrown with the intention of winning by causing a knockout (which is nothing but a concussive head injury). Resulting these sports carry an exceedingly high risk for both acute and chronic neurological injuries.
Boxers have died during a bout or in the immediate aftermath due to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) such as an acute subdural hematoma (SDH), epidural hematoma (EDH), subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), intracranial hematoma and injury to the great vessels of the neck such as carotid or vertebral artery dissection.
The WBC advocates for two equally skilled and matched athletes competing in the cage or ring, on a level playing field and to keep matches fair, competitive, entertaining, and most importantly safe for all combatants. At present level of scientific knowledge, the WBC consensus is that allowing transgender athletes to compete raises serious health and safety concerns.
This is rather interesting considering that WBC also shined a light on trans participation in the male division.
Former trans MMA pro Fallon Fox was quick to pipe in on injustice pointing to a case of Patricio Manuel, a trans boxer in the male division.
https://twitter.com/FallonFox/status/1559568267559088128?s=20&t=ncj6j5p48KoSPu_qqztHSg
https://twitter.com/FallonFox/status/1559568269991768067?s=20&t=ncj6j5p48KoSPu_qqztHSg