‘Potentially Have Fatal Consequences’: Athletes Sound Off On USA Boxing’s New Transgender Policy

Athletes including former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines, UFC star Colby Covington, and tennis great Martina Navratilova have all blasted USA Boxing for a policy change that now permits certain males to compete in the women’s division.

The new policy was first proposed in August 2022, as highlighted by National Review, and outlines that male athletes can fight women if they claim to be female, complete “gender reassignment surgery,” and test their testosterone levels for four years following such procedures.

Gaines, now an advocate for girls’ and women’s sports, said the move by the boxing organization is not only unfair, but compromises women’s safety.

“Let me be the first to say women are not just a testosterone level,” she said on Fox News. “And we’re not just men who merely don’t have male genitalia, which is the policy that USA Boxing has in place now.”

“In regard to this topic, we know about the unfair competition aspect, but the safety of women has been compromised by USA Boxing’s new policies and guidelines,” Gaines continued. “And I think my biggest problem with this new implementation is that we are now glorifying men — we’re calling them champions, we’re giving them titles, they’re winning prize money — for punching women in the face. That’s the purpose of boxing or MMA, any fighting sport that requires physical contact like boxing does.”

“We’re glorifying that. We’re calling it progressive,” she added. “Make no mistake, this is not progress. This is not moving us in the positive, forward direction. This is incredibly regressive. This is taking us back in time and it’s utterly misogynistic.”

Covington called the policy “despicable.”

“Biological men shouldn’t be allowed to compete in women’s sports,” he said. “Doesn’t matter what their hormone levels or pronouns are, they’re still biological men.”

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“When they dig up their bones in 200 years, their bones won’t leave pronouns,” the fighter continued. “They’re just gonna leave XX and XY chromosomes, and, unfortunately, boxing is a sport that could potentially have fatal consequences. So, to let women go against men is completely irresponsible, unethical, and dangerous.”

“Anyone sincerely suggesting this is a good idea needs to seek serious professional help immediately. I don’t know what sanctioning body or boxing commission is going to approve this. This is disgusting,” Covington added. “To put a man in there against a woman … this is endangering someone’s life.”

Navratilova reacted online to the news, posting on X, “So not ok…beyond irresponsible.”

So not ok…beyond irresponsible https://t.co/4jF2QWNwyy

— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) December 30, 2023

Puerto Rican professional boxer and MMA fighter Amanda Serrano also criticized the transgender policy.

“Make it make sense! Women who were born women can’t compete against women under the same rules as men according to the WBC (World Boxing Council)….BUT men can identify as a woman, transition and then fight us women?” she wrote. “All I want is equal opportunity for all. Our bodies. Our decision.”

Make it make sense! Women who were born women can’t compete against women under the same rules as men according to the WBC….BUT men can identify as a woman, transition and then fight us women?

All I want is equal opportunity for all. Our bodies. Our decision.

— Amanda Serrano (@Serranosisters) December 30, 2023

Related: USA Boxing Allows Men To Fight Women With New Transgender Guidelines