The Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) will take up the issue of boxers who grow beards for religious reasons during its annual general meeting, to be held at Bhatinda on September 5, after Pushpinder Singh, a Sikh who won gold in the +91-kg weight category at the youth championships in Nagpur, was not picked for the Commonwealth Youth Games.

As per the rules of boxing’s world body (AIBA), a boxer must be clean shaven, without even a moustache or a stubble — a problem for athletes from the Muslim or Sikh communities. There have been several controversies in the past with some several Muslims protesting against the AIBA rules, pointing out that athletes from their community are unable to compete during the month of Ramzan because they are allowed to cut their beards. But the AIBA rule has stood so far because its medical commission feels it could go unnoticed if a competitor with a beard suffers a cut or an injury during a bout. “The AIBA feels it could be dangerous if the ring officials fail to notice it and allow the pugilist to box,” says PK Muralidharan Raja, secretary-general of the IABF.

Pushpinder, despite qualifying, could not be picked to participate in the Pune Youth Games because of the AIBA ruling. The IABF has now decided to discuss the matter after the Punjab boxer raised the issue, as first reported by The Indian Express last week, and even mustered support from the Shiromani Gurdrwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC). The opinion among a section of our affiliates is to allow talented boxers to compete in international events, particularly at home events at least. Whatever decision we take, we will inform the AIBA. In any case, we have to go by what the world body says,” said Raja.

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