Boxing ban on women 'wrong'

A BOXING club's refusal to train women has been condemned by its own governing body. The Amalgamated Boys Club says it would be too difficult to accept female members. Separate toilets, training areas and even coaches would be required.

However, a spokesman for the Amateur Boxing Association of England disagreed and said better time management was the answer.

The dispute came to light following a complaint from a Guernsey Press reader, Louise Stewart, who objected to the club being portrayed as open to all, while banning women.

She said the club had refused to train several women, including her.

Secretary and treasurer Paul Ferbrache said that the club had neither the facilities nor manpower at its St Martin's hall to offer boxing to women.

The club could not, he said, put at risk its community work through boxing 'in the name of political correctness by putting strains upon its finances and administrative and other services'.

But ABA national child protection and equity manager Barry Jones said the club had to change and that it would not get the association's backing if challenged through the courts.

'I fully sympathise with the comments of Louise and would hope that the club will find a way of accommodating female members,' said Mr Jones, part of whose role is to encourage women in the sport.

'Our policy is that all clubs should strive to welcome female members. Many will have limited facilities, particularly for changing and toilets. Our advice has always been that clubs should consider alternative training times that allow a single facility to be used by both male and female members.

'To merely say, ?we have not got the facilities? or, even worse, ?we do not want female athletes?, is quite simply not acceptable.

'With a little effort, female members/athletes can be accommodated and, I would argue, would be a positive addition to any club.'

But he did acknowledge the good work the Amalgamated had done over the years.

'I would stress that the inclusion of female members is not about being politically correct, as Mr Ferbrache states, but is about being inclusive, fair, equitable and lawful.'