3 Mar 2012

Skirts for female boxers not compulsory

9:07 am on 3 March 2012

Women boxers will not be forced to wear skirts when the sport makes its Olympic debut in London later this year, the sport's governing body for amateurs has announced.

The International Boxing Association had faced criticism from female fighters over a proposal to make skirts mandatory to distinguish them from the men.

But in a change to its Technical and Competition Rules the governing body said women could now wear either shorts or skirts according to their preference.