Amateur boxing in Quebec recently made headlines after a boxer from Saguenay refused to step into the ring against a transgender athlete.
About an hour before their fight, Katia Bissonnette learned by chance that her rival was born in a man’s body. She told the Journal de Montréal that she feared for her safety and that she withdrew from the confrontation to “not have an impact on any other boxers.” The pugilist also lamented the lack of transparency from organizers of the provincial Golden Gloves Championships.
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When asked about this, Tammara Thibeault put on white gloves.
“It is an extremely sensitive issue,” said the gold medalist at the World Championships, Pan American Championships and Commonwealth Games.
“Boxe Quebec and Boxe Canada have regulations for this type of situation. However, it is important to know all the information. Boxing is a dangerous sport and it is important to be well informed.”
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In fact, Boxe Québec does not have its own set of rules and applies Boxing Canada’s regulations. The national association has no rules for trans athletes.
Boxing Canada instead has a transgender athlete policy dated November 2020, but the organization agrees it is not an official document and therefore is not in effect. All of this leaves athletes in the dark, and it should come as no surprise that Thibeault refuses to comment on whether she would be willing to put on the gloves with a trans boxer.