By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Feb. 19, 2025 (NAN) Boris Van der Vorst, the President of World Boxing that is unfazed with the issue of transgender in boxing is set to visit Nigeria in the coming days.
A boxing stakeholder in Nigeria, Azania Omo Agege, the interim President Nigeria Boxing Federation has frowned over the purposed visit, stating that Nigeria as a sovereign nation loves boxing as a sport, but he is against the issue of transgender in sport.
He further pointed that there are two factions in the world of amateur boxing, which are World Boxing ( WB) and International Boxing Association ( IBA).
“World Boxing is an organisation that supports IOC transgender agenda for boxing. The Algerian boxer, Imane Khalif was fighting under IBA before she was suspended after series of tests conducted showed that the boxer is a man, instead of a woman,” Omo Agege said.
“IBA suspended her immediately, but she went ahead and compete at the Paris Olympics under World Boxing and approved by the International Olympics Committee ( IOC) and this created controversies at the Olympics.
He added that the issue of transgender in sports has been vehemently opposed by notable world leaders like Donald Trump, the United States president and Nigeria as a sovereign nation must follow the noble path and compete fairly in boxing.
“As a Nigerian boxing stakeholder, i don’t want Nigerian boxers to fight under World Boxing that supports transgender. It is very unfair to us as a nation.
“Donald Trump, the president of United States has openly said no to transgender in sports, insisting that only natural males and females will compete at the 2028 Los Angeles games.
“Nigeria as a sovereign nation has a constitution that is against transgenders and there are serious consequences if any citizen or organisation frolicks in support of it.The Nigerian constitution supercedes that,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, another boxing stakeholder, who pleaded to be annoymous has said that there is nothing wrong if Nigeria is under World Boxing and the visit Van der Vorst, adding that Nigeria has a lot to gain under World Boxing.
“Nigeria did not join World Boxing for fun or for free money. We want boxing to develop very well in Nigeria and we are quite sure that our boxers will thrive under WB.”
When asked if it is proper for Nigeria to be under WB that promotes or supports transgenders, he said what is paramount is the development of Nigerian boxers.
“We want our boxers to continue to improve and we are not affected by the issue of transgenders,” he said.(NAN)
