Explained: Why women wear headguards while men do no in Olympic boxing

In Olympic boxing, a notable difference between male and female competitors is the requirement for headguards.

Since the 2016 Rio Olympics, male boxers have competed without headgear, a rule change based on research indicating that headguards could increase the risk of concussions.

In contrast, female boxers have continued to wear headguards, and this discrepancy has sparked considerable debate.

Headgear was introduced in Olympic boxing in 1984 following the tragic death of South Korean boxer Kim Duk-Koo.

After a fatal bout against Ray Mancini, Duk-Koo’s death was attributed to severe brain injury from a single punch.

The introduction of headguards aimed to reduce the risk of such severe injuries, particularly in an amateur sport where participants are generally less experienced than their professional counterparts.

The protective gear remained a standard part of Olympic boxing for over 40 years, with notable champions like Anthony Joshua donning headgear during the London 2012 Olympics.

However, by the Rio 2016 Games, concerns emerged regarding the efficacy of headguards in preventing concussions.

Following extensive research conducted by the Global Sport Institute (GSI) after Rio 2016, it was discovered that headguards might not provide the protection initially intended.

The study found that athletes wearing headgear were at a higher risk of concussions compared to those who competed without it.

Several factors contributed to these findings: headguards could create a false sense of security, leading boxers to engage in riskier behaviour, and the increased surface area could make the head more susceptible to rotational forces, which are particularly damaging to the brain.

As a result of these findings, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) decided to eliminate the requirement for male boxers to wear headguards starting from the 2016 Olympics.

Despite the evidence suggesting that headgear might not be beneficial, female boxers have continued to wear them.

The primary reason for this is that the research conducted by GSI only involved male athletes.

There was insufficient data to determine whether the same conclusions applied to female boxers.

As a precautionary measure, the AIBA decided to maintain the headguard requirement for women until further research could confirm its impact.

The debate over this regulation has been vocal, with prominent figures like Claressa Shields expressing frustration over the disparity.

Shields and others argue that if headgear is deemed unnecessary or even detrimental for men, the same should apply to women.

Change may be on the horizon. The AIBA has recently approved a trial period to remove headguards for female boxers, which will commence in the coming months.

This trial aims to assess whether the same risks apply to women and determine whether the headgear should be abolished entirely for all competitors.