– I am at a loss for words right now. This is how boxer Patricio “Pat” Manuel starts a post on Instagram. – This is not a step towards inclusion, but unnecessary “separation by equalisation”. I spend my days training with other men. I don’t want to be treated differently,” he continues. SCREEN DUMP: On Instagram, “Pat” expresses that he is clearly disappointed with the WBC’s statement. Photo: @thepatmanuel / Instagram Manuel was a five-time US women’s amateur champion before undergoing gender reassignment surgery. He was the first transgender boxer in US history to box a professional bout, and the statement comes in the wake of WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman’s interview with The Telegraph. The WBC is a major international boxing federation. – We will never allow a trans person who was born as a man to box against a woman, but we make rules so that trans boxing can take place, said the boxing president to the English newspaper on Thursday. Furthermore, he said that the change should include all transgender boxers, regardless of the athlete’s biological sex. – We will put out a global call for those interested in 2023, and we will make rules, start consultations and most likely create a league and a tournament. – A difficult issue Former European Championship finalist in boxing, Ingrid Egner, tells news that Patricio Manuel is of course entitled to say what he wants about the news, but she points out that it is important to protect the right to a fair competition for those who biologically are born as women. FORMER BOXES: Ingrid Egner believes it is important to include transgender people in sport, but that it should not come at the expense of fair women’s sport. Photo: Terje Bendiksby / NTB – People who have gone through puberty with, among other things, elevated testosterone values will always have an advantage from this – even if later in life the testosterone values of these people are reduced. These are biological facts that are independent of whether they define themselves as female or male, Egner believes. – It is important that trans people are included in sports, but not at the expense of fair women’s sports. This is a difficult issue, she adds. A study published by “The Canadian Center for Ethics in Sport” (CCES) concludes that there are no physical advantages to changing gender from male to female. It is the most extensive and recognized research in the area to date, and is also the one the IOC (International Olympic Committee) relies on. Transgender athletes have been a challenging issue in several sports in recent years, but international boxing has been more or less untouched. The statements from WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman therefore come as lightning from the blue. – Doesn’t seem completely thought through President of the Norwegian Boxing Association Haktor Slåke tells news that he has not caught up with the WBC’s new category, and has not read about the practicalities surrounding the proposal. – I hope that it has been done in collaboration with those affected. If it is, I don’t see a problem with it. But it doesn’t seem completely well thought out, says Slåke. But he understands well the criticism of Manuel: UNFORTUNATE: President of the Norwegian Boxing Association Haktor Slåke believes the WBC’s decision is unfortunate. Photo: Vidar Ruud / NTB – I see that it is unfortunate. – He must be allowed to compete as a man when he has become a man. It should be optional, states the president. Slåke points out that the WBC’s decision does not affect the Norwegian Boxing Association, which is subordinate to the international boxing association IBA, where a separate category for trans athletes has not been debated. Applies to several sports Earlier this year, Ekstremsportveko in Voss took a similar step. Trans women were not allowed to participate in the women’s class there either. Instead, an open class was created for gender diversity, prompting transwoman Sasha Vales Toledano to react. – It is sad, the paddler told news. DENIED PARTICIPATION: French Sasha Vales Toledano was refused participation in the women’s class in Ekstremsportveko at Voss this summer. Photo: Kaisa Tiivel The International Swimming Federation (FINA) decided this summer that trans women may not participate in elite events as women, if they were over twelve years old when they underwent gender confirmation treatment. Transgender woman and handball goalkeeper, Zooey Perry, fears that tougher rules in top sport could lead to young trans people being left outside mainstream sports. – If all these rules had been here when I was young, it would have been so difficult for me. I used the sport to express myself and it helped me to understand who I was, Perry told news in the wake of the rule change in swimming. CRAZY: Zooey Perry thinks it’s crazy to exclude trans athletes from women’s and men’s sports. Photo: Privat Perry is originally from England, but plays for Lambertseter IF’s team in the 3rd and 4th division, and wonders why she should have a physical advantage as a trans woman: – If there was such a thing as a physical advantage, why Am I not in Kristiansand playing for Vipers? Håvard B. Øvregård, who is a senior advisor and works with value work at the Norwegian Sports Confederation (NIF), has previously commented on the topic to news: – We are concerned that it should be possible to have some rules for top sports, which set restrictions on participation in the women’s class, at the same time as one is open in the broad sports and makes it possible for everyone to participate, said Øvregård.
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Strong reactions to the introduction of a separate trans category in international boxing – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
