Wu revealed details of the plan at the 5th World Conference on Women and Sport in response to criticism from Benita Fitzgerald-Mosley, the 1984 Olympic 100 metres hurdles champion, who is now the Chief of Sport Performance at USA Track and Field, that female boxers would be forced to wear skirts.

"We have never asked the women to wear skirts compulsorily," Wu told an audience of 300, drawing warm applause.

"Our Technical and Rules Commission have had several discussions.

"Some women want to wear shorts and some want to wear skirts.

"So the decision we have made is that we shall make it optional [what they wear] because many boxers are undecided."

The decision still has to be formally ratified by the AIBA Executive Committee but Wu told insidethegames that he is now set to hold a postal ballot next week to so that they can put the issue behind them.

Wu explained to the delegates at the Conference, which was attended by International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, that the issue had first come to the forefront at last year's European Women's Championships.

"The Polish team wore skirts," he said.

"That immediately drew attention.

"The boxers said they responded very positively and it helped give them very easy movement.

"But we also have opposition from outstanding boxers like Ireland's Katie Taylor, who prefers to wear shorts.

"We have many boxers who asked for shorts so the best thing to do is to let them decide individually.

"But the men have no option - they have to wear shorts!"

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected] 


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