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Australia: Gloves Are Off
Penrith-Press
September 2, 2008 |
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(SEPT 2 ) THE fight is on for women to
enter the boxing ring. Women in NSW are banned from the sport under
the State Boxing and Wrestling Control Act, but boys can fight from
as young as 14.
Amateur boxer Tammy Taylor, 22, trains at the Penrith PCYC and
travels to Canberra to fight.
“I can compete anywhere in Australia except NSW,” she said.
“It’s really frustrating because it’s just blatant discrimination.
It’s not equal opportunity in sport and I don’t know how they get
away with it.
“You can’t get on a state team, you can’t hold a state title because
you’re not allowed to fight.”
Boxing NSW medical officer Lou Lewis is a former president of the
amateur boxing body and an ex-boxer.
“It’s a sexist law done without any medical reason (to justify)
women can’t box,” he said.
“It must be one of the few laws in the world based on gender.”
A spokeswoman for State Sports Minister Graham West said the NSW
Government is drafting new laws but “the new laws do not remove the
exclusion of women from boxing”.
“When the current legislation was introduced in 1986, the NSW
Government made clear that they thought the community would not
accept women being involved in that activity,” the spokeswoman said.
“In the case of women, there are specific concerns relating to the
effect of repeated blows to the breast area, due to the sensitivity
of that tissue.
“Also, in the early stages, women are not always aware that they are
pregnant, and the possible effect on a foetus could be a problem.”
Link to Story:
penrith-press Author: Melissa
Matheson
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