Boxing remains a sport of tradition, discipline, and clarity, and the President of the World Boxing Federation,WBF, Boris Van Der Vorst, has set the record straight—there is no transgender category in Olympic boxing.
During his visit to Nigeria on Tuesday, Van Der Vorst dismissed widespread misconceptions, stating that Olympic boxing has no transgender athletes, including in the female category.
He assured that a policy addressing gender variation, medical procedures, age regulations, and equipment standards is in place and will soon be published.
His two-day visit to Nigeria aimed to strengthen the sport’s future across Africa. He engaged with boxing leaders from Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia to chart a path for growth, expressing optimism about the sport’s development on the continent.
Emphasizing Nigeria’s leadership in boxing, Van Der Vorst praised the country’s commitment to preserving Olympic dreams. He noted that Nigeria was the first African nation to align with World Boxing’s vision, a move he described as courageous and commendable.
He also highlighted WBF’s progress, stating that the federation has fulfilled 70 out of 75 requirements to become an official Olympic international body. “Our primary goal is to safeguard the Olympic aspirations of boxers in every gym, everywhere in the world,” he said.
Welcoming the WBF president, Coach Adura Olalehin, Chairman of the reception committee, expressed confidence that the visit would reignite Nigeria’s global boxing reputation.
NAN
