Boxing beard ban is discrimination, says Sikh novice fighter

A ruling that amateur combatants in Wales ought to be smoothly-shaven is discriminatory, a Sikh boxer has said. Aaron Singh, 20, said the rule used by the Welsh Amateur Boxing Association (WABA) prevents him from competing due to his religion.

The English newbie frame, England Boxing, reversed the ban following a marketing campaign from Sikh and Muslim boxers. The WABA stated whether or not the guideline was discriminatory would be decided this month through its contributors and board. It delivered it would additionally don’t forget if the “sporting integrity” of novice boxing could be affected by leaving behind the rule of thumb.

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Mr. Singh, who is from the East Midlands but is analyzing philosophy and economics at Cardiff University, stated: “For me to compete, they are asking me to shave all of my beards off, which is in opposition to my religion. “I spoke to the WABA on the phone, and they told me that it was a health issue. “To have a person inform me that I’m not allowed to take part in something like a carrying occasion due to the fact I’ve got a beard – I, in my view, see that as being wrong. “I do sense that the rule of thumb is discriminatory. I can do it an hour away, but as quickly as I come right here, it is not allowed.”

The Sikh principle of Kesh prevents the elimination of any hair at the frame because it is taken into consideration sacred and a present from God. Amerpreet Singh, an outstanding figure in the Sikh community in Cardiff, has the same opinion as Mr. Singh and stated: “To me, it is 100% discriminatory. By pronouncing you can’t combat in Wales as a newbie boxer due to the fact, you have a beard, heartbreaking. “Sikhs fought within the first and the second one international battle. When we fought in the one’s wars, they did not compete with a trimmed beard. They fought with their turbans and their full beards. “It hurts that they may be trying to inform us that we can’t do beginner boxing in Wales because we’ve got a beard, however, but we were best to combat for freedom in the one’s wars.”

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Amateur boxing is ruled internationally using the International Boxing Association (AIBA), beneath which boxers remain averted from competing with facial hair. But AIBA changed into stripped of its Olympic status in May, which means the International Olympic Committee will set its rules for boxing in next year’s Tokyo Olympics. Prof Carwyn Jones is a lecturer in sports activities ethics at Cardiff Metropolitan University. He said he understood the WABA’s reasoning for the rule; however, he does not experience it justifies the new ban.