A new trans policy that allows transgender women, who were born male, to compete in women’s matches is drawing criticism from USA Boxing.
The federal boxing governing body is criticized for not completely banning transgender women, but trans athletes are subject to one of the strictest rules.
A trans athlete must undergo gender reassignment surgery and submit weekly testosterone tests for at least four years after surgery in order to compete, according to USA Boxing’s 2024 handbook.
Athletes under the age of 18 must compete according to sex at birth.
According to USA Boxing, the normal range of testosterone levels for males is more than 10 nanomoles per litre (10 nmol/L), and the typical range for females, less than 3.1 nanomoles per litre (3.1 nmol/L), is defined.
In light of this, a boxer who transitions from male to female is qualified to compete in the adult category if her serum testosterone level has been below 5 nmol/L for at least 48 months before her first competition.
Before his first match, an athlete who transitions from female to male must show plasma testosterone levels above 10 nmol/L for at least 48 weeks.
People shared their displeasure with the policy on social media despite the restrictions.
Jenna Ellis, a conservative attorney who worked on the legal team for former President Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign, posted on X, “USA Boxing wants to get people killed.”
Lauren Boebert, a Colorado representative, agreed with her.
“Let’s call this what it is. Men will be able to beat up women in a boxing ring.” Boebert wrote on X, “This is sad and disgusting.”
However, one X user mocked the policy’s stringency.
“Oh, how progressive. As long as transgender athletes undergo aggressive and potentially harmful medical procedures and submit to humiliating and random hormone testing, let’s applaud the boxing governing body for finally allowing them to compete,” according to X user Joe Maristela. “Because nothing says ‘inclusion’ like requiring people to have surgery to compete in a sport.”
Testing at the athlete’s expense will be used to monitor compliance with the requirements. In the event of non-compliance, the trans athlete’s registration will be suspended for a year, and retesting will then be necessary.
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