Duval Times

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has criticized USA Boxing for allowing biological men who identify as women to compete against women. In a letter addressed to USA Boxing Executive Director and CEO Mike McAtee, Rubio urged the organization to reverse its "transgender policy" as it disregards the physical differences between men and women and puts female athletes in danger.

Rubio's letter states, "Allowing men to hit women is reprehensible, even under the guise of athletic competition. It is behavior no civilized country would tolerate, much less encourage." He argues that civilized countries enforce special prohibitions on violence against women because men possess physical advantages that make them more capable of violence.

The Senator highlights the innate biological differences between men and women, such as muscle mass, heart and lung capacity, and skeletal structure, which give men an advantage in combat sports. He emphasizes that hormone injections and monitoring cannot eliminate these advantages, nor change the fundamental principle that it is wrong for men to hit women.

Rubio points to past incidents where men who identify as women have competed against biological women in various sports, resulting in unfair competition and serious injuries. He cites the case of mixed-martial artist Fallon Fox, a transgender woman who knocked out three women in the ring, causing one opponent to be hospitalized with a fractured eye socket.

The Senator acknowledges that other boxing organizations and many female boxers have expressed opposition to USA Boxing's policy, citing concerns about fairness and the safety of female athletes. Mauricio Sulaimán, the president of the World Boxing Council, has previously stated that "a man fighting a woman must never be accepted regardless of gender change. There should be no grey area around this."

Rubio argues that protecting women is a sufficient reason to oppose the "transgender policy" and highlights the negative impact it has on boxers who believe they are transgender. The policy requires athletes to undergo "gender-reassignment surgery," which is dangerous and irreversible, in order to compete as their perceived sex.

Although acknowledging the pressure USA Boxing may face from activists advocating for transgender inclusion, Rubio urges the organization to reconsider its policy and explicitly prohibit boxers of the opposite sex from fighting in the ring.

In conclusion, Senator Marco Rubio has called out USA Boxing for its "transgender policy" that allows biological men who identify as women to compete against women. He argues that this policy disregards the physical differences between men and women, puts female athletes in danger, and undermines fairness in athletics. Rubio urges USA Boxing to reverse its decision and explicitly prohibit boxers of the opposite sex from fighting in the ring.