USA Boxing to begin allowing transgender boxers in 2024
USA Boxing announced it will begin accepting transgender boxers to the sport at the beginning of 2024. The new rulebook can be found here and goes into effect on January 1.
The national governing body for amateur/Olympic-style boxing in the United States will now allow male athletes who transition to compete in the female category in sanctioned boxing bouts under certain conditions.
Transgender boxers will have to meet certain requirements before they’re allowed to compete, which will require consistent testing. Boxers under the age of 18 must still compete as their birth gender.
To qualify for the female division, a man must declare his gender identity as female, have undergone gender reassignment surgery, have done hormone testing for a minimum of four years after such procedures, and have met testosterone limits set by USA Boxing.
“USA Boxing presents this policy for members regarding transgender participation in USA Boxing’s competitions,” the new policy reads.
“The purpose of this policy is to provide fairness and safety for all boxers.
“USA Boxing has determined this policy based on the November 2021 International Olympic Committee (IOC) Framework on Fairness, Inclusion and Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations, which remits each sport and its governing body to determine how an athlete may be at a disproportionate advantage compared with their peers, taking into consideration the nature of each sport.
“This means that the International Federation (IF) for each sport determines the eligibility. Since boxing’s IF has not determined transgender eligibility and boxing is considered a combat sport, USA Boxing’s overriding objective is the safety of all boxers and fair competition between all boxers.”
Any transgender boxer who is found in violation of the policy will be suspended from competition for one year.
