England Boxing confirms rule change on facial hair ban from 1st Jun

March 13, 2018 | by Gemma Field

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Following a review of its policies and rules and in light of the strategy and overall aims to be more inclusive, England Boxing have confirmed that they will remove the rule preventing people with facial hair competing in the sport from its rule book for the new season which start on 1 June.

After a number of queries from the membership including at the AGM, the issue was raised at England Boxing’s board meeting in December where it was agreed that the governing body should look into changing the rule and also write to the international federation – AIBA – to seek that they change so any boxers could potentially compete on the international stage.

England Boxing has made the decision to remove the rule at domestic level and forms part of its aims to fully embrace inclusivity in the sport. England Boxing will continue to lobby AIBA to get the rule changed at an international level.

CEO Gethin Jenkins said: “Boxing is rightly proud of its diversity and we hope by changing this rule we continue with our attempts to be as inclusive as possible.”