USA Boxing adds trans athlete policy to rulebook

(news nation) — USA Boxing Latest Information The rulebook has sparked criticism over the federation's policies regarding transgender athletes.

The policy was written in 2022 but was added to the federation's rulebook this week. This is based on the November 2021 International Commission on Equity, Inclusion and Non-Discrimination Based on Gender Identity and Gender Diversity Framework. The framework would allow each sport's international federation to decide on the eligibility of transgender athletes.

“Because Boxing's IF has not determined transgender eligibility and boxing is considered a combat sport, USA Boxing's overriding goals are the safety of all boxers and fair competition among all boxers.” It is.” USA Boxing writes in its August 2022 release:.

Per federation policy, minors must compete in the gender assigned at birth.

According to this policy, the normal range for testosterone in adult boxers is considered to be at least 10 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L) for male athletes and less than 3.1 nmol/L for female athletes. These numbers are based in part on research from Boston Children's Hospital's Division of Sports Medicine and Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital.

According to the policy, boxers who transition from male to female will be eligible to compete if they have “declared their gender identity as female” and completed gender reassignment surgery. Male to female boxers also undergo quarterly hormone testing and must submit records of their hormone levels to USA Boxing for at least four years post-operatively.

In addition, you must demonstrate that your testosterone level has been less than 5 nmol/L for at least 48 months prior to your first competition and for the entire time you compete in the women's category.

Compliance will be monitored through testing at the athlete's expense. The federation will suspend the offending athlete's eligibility to compete in women's competitions for 12 months. Your boxer's hormones should be retested after that period.

The same conditions apply for boxers transitioning from female to male, but their testosterone levels must be above 10 nmol/L.

Boxer Michaela Mayer was among the critics Who said the policy was unfair?

“Hormone therapy is prohibited” Mayer wrote about X. “By default, transgender athletes should be ineligible to compete. Period. Regardless of how you feel about this situation, the fact is that this is illegal and that the sport has worked so hard to create.” It completely destroys the level playing field that has existed.”

others I was worried about the policy. It could give transgender female athletes an unfair advantage and put boxers at risk.

USA Boxing did not immediately respond to NewsNation's email seeking comment. The federation previously said the rules were created to “provide fairness and safety for all boxers.”