Ebanie Bridges Leads Charge Against New Boxing Transgender Policy Rules, Citing Safety Concerns

The recent decision by USA Boxing to allow transgender athletes to compete in their current gender category has ignited a firestorm of debate within the boxing community. Leading the charge against the new policy is Australian boxer and former world champion, Ebanie Bridges, who has vehemently criticized the decision, calling it “dangerous” and a threat to the safety of female boxers.

Bridges took to social media to express her outrage, labelling the policy “wrong on so many levels” and arguing that it puts female athletes at a physical disadvantage. She pointed to bone density and other biological factors that, according to her, give transgender athletes an unfair advantage in a combat sport like boxing.

“It ain’t just about the test levels,” Bridges wrote. “What about their bone density and a heap of other biological factors? Cutting your bits off and adding boobs won’t take back the masculine maturity your body has gone through before you decided you are now a woman.”

Showing his disagreement with the decision, Bridges wrote on X, “I will never agree to this… it’s bad enough having trans women breaking records in other sports like track and field, swimming and powerlifting..”

“but it’s a bit different to them breaking our skulls in combat sports where the aim is to HURT YOU not just break a record…however I think it’s wrong in ALL SPORT.”

Her concerns echo those of several other female boxers who have spoken out against the policy. They argue that the allowance of transgender athletes in the female category could ultimately harm women’s boxing as a whole, creating an uneven playing field and discouraging young girls from entering the sport.

However, supporters of the policy argue that it is in line with principles of inclusivity and fairness. They point to the criteria outlined by USA Boxing, which includes hormone testing and a minimum period of time since gender reassignment surgery, as safeguards to ensure a level playing field.

“Our mission is to provide fairness and safety for all boxers,” USA Boxing said in a statement last week. “We believe this policy does both.”

The International Boxing Federation (AIBA) has yet to determine its own eligibility policy for transgender boxers. The issue is expected to be a major point of discussion in the lead-up to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

New eligibility criteria for transgender athletes in USA Boxing:

USA Boxing has revised its guidelines for transgender athletes participating in the female category. To ensure fairness and safety, athletes must now meet specific criteria before competing:

Declaration of Identity: Athletes must officially declare their gender identity as female.

Hormone Testing: Both male and female transgender athletes undergo regular hormone testing for at least four years after any gender reassignment surgery. USA Boxing keeps documented records of these tests.

Testosterone Levels: For individuals transitioning from male to female, testosterone levels in serum must be below 5 nmol/L for a minimum of 48 months prior to the first competition.