“Boxing is for Everyone” WBC released a statement promising to discuss controversial inclusion of transgender fighters in boxing at the annual convention
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WBC Will arbitrate on the topic by the end of the year
The WBC has announced that it will be taking a look into the future of the sport with regard to the inclusion or exclusion of trans athletes from boxing. Transgender athletes in sports is a very heated debate at the moment with the two sides screaming for total acceptance or total rejection.
At its annual convention, the WBC will argue if trans athletes have a biological advantage over their female counterparts. Women in combat sports is the topic of heated arguments considering the direct risk to life involved. Although some regional MMA circuits have allowed trans athletes to face women, leading to severe public backlash.
In 2020 WBC president, Mauricio Sulaiman revealed during an Instagram live his stance on the issue. Trying to explain why women’s bouts have shorter time periods and lesser rounds, he said, “Transgender is not accepted because there is a difference between a man and a woman…the WBC does not accept transgender boxing.”
Sulaiman continued, “There’s only male and female, there is no in between. People say that it has to be the same. So you mean we have to do pregnancy tests to men as well? It’s a really big difference.”
Related: “GenderBender” – Israel Adesanya reacts to ex-marine transgender fighting a woman in MMA fight
WBC argues for both sides in the Transgender Fighters Debate
At their annual convention which usually takes place around November, the WBC will arbitrate on the status of transgender people in the sport of boxing.
In their statement they listed both sides of the argument, reading, ” It’s argued that transgender women have an unfair advantage over cisgender women in competitive sports and may endanger them, due to differences in human physiology,” arguing that these differences are not evened out by mere hormone therapy.
“Another opinion sector argues that medically prescribed puberty blockers and estrogen, suppress testosterone levels and reduce muscle mass in transgender women, reducing potential competitive advantage, “ read the latter part of the argument.
The end of the statement read, “We are committed to protecting human rights, eradicating discrimination and helping those who need it most. We believe that boxing is for everyone.” The WBC assured that this would be the main topic at their upcoming annual convention.
The debate about trans athletes in women’s sports picked up global attention when a US Swimmer Lia Thomas made the headlines. A notable example of Trans athletes in combat sports in recent times is Alana McLaughlin, a former special forces member currently a 1-0 MMA fighter.
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Jerin Mathew
(713 Articles Published)