WBC Planning To Introduce Transgender Category In Boxing

The World Boxing Council (WBC) made headlines last week following the announcement that the organization is planning on introducing a new category for transgender pugilists.

The progressive move, as explained by WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman, is being done with the aim of safety and inclusion.

In an interview with United Kingdom-based news outlet The Telegraph, Sulaiman bared that in 2023, they plan on gauging interest in order to set the gears of starting up a league and a tournament in motion.

“We are going to put out a global call for those who are interested in 2023 and we will set up the protocols, start consultation and most likely create a league and a tournament,” Sulaiman stated.

“It is the time to do this, and we are doing this because of safety and inclusion. We have been the leaders in rules for women’s boxing–so the dangers of a man fighting a woman will never happen because of what we are going to put in place.”

The WBC has been a strong supporter of transgender athletes in sports, and even released a statement and guidelines with regard to them participating in combat sports.

In a more recent interview with Sky Sports, Sulaiman went into further detail regarding the introduction of a transgender category, explaining that the ultimate goal is to provide trans-athletes a platform to compete in one of the most popular sports in the world.

“We don’t know [when a bout could be sanctioned]. Our interest right now is the sport. At first safety, of course, for all athletes. If there is a common group of [trans] athletes and it leads to having more people reach out and register, we don’t know where this could finish,” Sulaiman shared.

“What we want to do is create a transgender boxing program. Not necessarily a belt, or a championship. Simply a competition, so they can be included in boxing and not excluded,” he continued. “We put this together, we’re going to be working. We’re trying to find how many potential athletes there are out there, so we can help them and establish a boxing program.”

One of the main guidelines being discussed is implementing an “at birth” rule, which prohibits an athlete born as a man to fight an athlete born as a woman.

“The WBC medical committee and the technical committee met during the [WBC] convention. It was decided that the WBC absolutely rejects and opposes to any born man to fight against a born woman,” Sulaiman explained.

While it is still currently in the development stage, the introduction of a transgender bracket in boxing is indeed a step in the right direction when it comes to inclusion, equality, and of course, safety.

This could also set the precedent for other sports to follow suit, according to unified women’s super welterweight champion Natasha Jonas.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Jonas believes that sports should not have any barriers.

“There shouldn’t be any barriers to sport, to being included and being able to participate in a sport that you love and you want to do. Saying that it also needs to be fair. The world moves and sport moves and it doesn’t stop for anybody and this is the way the world is. There shouldn’t be barriers to anyone competing but we have to keep it fair,” she said. “We’re a combat sport and there are physiological differences.”

“I do think it probably will set the precedent for others to follow.”