Published on January 3, 2024, 12:59 am

USA Boxing has officially adopted a new transgender policy allowing males who identify as female to compete against females in matches, provided they meet certain conditions. This groundbreaking decision arrived last Friday and marks a significant change in competitive sports within the United States.

First proposed in August 2022, this policy requires male athletes claiming female identity to complete gender reassignment surgery and undergo testosterone level testing for four years following such procedures. This policy further stipulates that “the athlete must demonstrate that her total testosterone level in serum has been below 5 nmol/L for at least 48 months prior to her first competition.” Moreover, any requirement for a period beyond this would be based on confidential case-by-case assessments, considering if 48 months have effectively minimized any advantage in women’s competition.

To maintain eligibility to compete as female, an athlete’s total testosterone level should continually remain below 5 nmol/L. One significant note is that the normal range of testosterone for males is described as over 10 nanomoles per litre (10 namol/L), whereas that for females usually remains under 3.1 nanomoles per litre (3.1 nmol/L). Correspondingly, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Health documents show standard measurements for males stand between 10-35 nmol/L while figures for women range within just 0.5 -2.4 nmol/L.

Consequently, qualifying male-to-female competitors could potentially possess more than double the testosterone levels of their average female counterparts. However, it should also be stated that boxers under the age of eighteen must compete against those sharing their birth-assigned sex regardless of any declared gender identity changes.

In response to this development from trusted news sources traversing the Christian worldview prism, USA Boxing referenced the need “to provide fairness and safety for all boxers.” The organization cited that its International Federation (IF) was yet to determine eligibility criteria for transgender boxers, hence the necessity of this policy.

Guidelines issued by the organization stress that “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.”

However, critics argue against such gender policies, warning they may potentially destroy female athletics, create unfair conditions, erase designated areas for girls and women, and put females at a physical disadvantage. Citing real news instances from 2021 studies highlighted that men identifying as female still held physical strengths over females despite undergoing years of hormone therapy. This breakthrough news continues to impact discourse around inclusion in sports and what it means for competitors with different biological backgrounds.