“Incredibly dangerous,” Australian boxer Caitlin Parker CALLS out inclusion of transgender athletes in women sports
Transgender athletes have been allowed to participate in boxing by the IOC.
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Australian boxing captain Caitlin Parker calls out IOC for inclusion of transgender athletes in women boxing (image via Imago)
The Paris Olympics 2024 has allowed transgender men who identify as women to participate in women’s sporting events. The move was to allow the growing calls for them to be allowed to participate.
However, not everyone is pleased with the inclusion, particularly Australian women’s boxing captain Caitlin Parker. British publication The Telegraph approached the 28-year-old about her opinion on transgender boxers participating in women’s events.
I don’t agree with them being allowed to compete in sport, especially combat sports. It can be incredibly dangerous. I don’t agree with it. It's not like I haven't sparred men before. But you know it can be dangerous for combat sports and it should be seriously looked into.Caitlin Parker said
She was categorically talking about transgender men harming women boxers. In particular, she was referring to transgender boxers Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu‑ting. In last year’s World Boxing Championships, the two were disqualified by the International Boxing Association. However, the IBA is not the sanctioning body for the Paris Olympics 2024. The International Olympic Committee is in charge of boxing this time due to a year-long dispute with the IBA.
Therefore, the onus falls on the IOC to decide who can participate. That said, Caitlin Parker makes a valid point regarding the difference in strength of a boxer with a male body. In combat sports such as boxing, the situation can take a turn for the worse as women could take a beating.
Caitlin Parker gets support from transgender woman boxer
Caitlin Parker is not the only person who has spoken out against the inclusion of transgender men in women’s sports. Most of those opposing have been women. However, a transgender woman boxer who identifies as a man has come out in support of the exclusion.
In sparring it's OK, but if they have XY chromosomes in competition, they should abide by the rules.Filipino boxer Hergie Bacyadan said this to reporters at the Olympics
That coming from someone who was born with female organs but identifies as a man speaks a lot. Bacyadan knows how hard a naturally born man can hit.
Therefore, it reinforces the logic. They should be disqualified from boxing against women. However, the IOC is possibly not going to change its stance for the time being. They also chose to ignore the XY chromosome test results.
If anything can make them pause and rethink, it is if an untoward situation develops. If public outcry adds to the dilemma, then it will force the IOC to change its stance. Until then, transgender men who identify as women can compete.
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Joseph Varghese
(2345 Articles Published)