A former model who wanted to become the first woman boxer to represent Britain at the Olympics has been barred from the ring – because she has breast implants.
Sarah Blewden, 25, took up the sport two years ago to keep fit and hoped to enter competitive bouts after discovering she had a natural talent.
But the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE) turned down her application on the grounds that the breast enlargement she underwent in 2003 put her at greater health risk.
“International rules forbid anyone with breast implants continuing to box because of risk of damage to the breast tissue,” said Tony Attwood, chairman of the ABAE.
“The natural breast tissue is pushed forward in front of the implant and it is this that is more at risk.”
‘Also repeated punches to the breast makes more likely that capsular contracture may develop around the implant and you would need corrective surgery to put it right.
Miss Blewden from Poole, Dorset, who runs a hair salon, said that the decision was “ridiculous” and said she would be happy to pay for corrective surgery to repair any damage to her 32C breasts.
“My surgeon said they make me no more vulnerable than any other woman. They are not enormous ones – they are in proportion. They are gel implants and not liquid so they won’t burst.”
She added: “Women haven’t been allowed to box for that long and this is an obstacle I want to get over so other women like me won’t have the same problem.”
The ABAE said that it had hoped to develop a protective breast plate to allow women like Miss Blewden to box competitively, but research funding had been withdrawn.
Sarah, who trains eight hours a week, said she used to do Thai boxing which involves kicks to the body and her enhanced breasts survived that intact.
She added: ‘Amateur boxing is not about knocking people out, it is about scoring points through skill. It is great at keeping you fit. I have been told I am good at it and I just want the chance to go on in the sport.’
Her trainer Mark Plunkett, from Poole, said: ‘Sarah is very talented at boxing. She wants to box at a very high standard and is desperate to go to the Olympics.
Women’s boxing is not currently an Olympic sport, but Tessa Jowell, the Olympics Minister wants to change the rules to open all events to both sexes for London 2012.
Ms Jowell said: “I think it’s wrong that women can’t compete in as many events as men. Women’s sport has come on leaps and bounds so it’s high time there was equal opportunity at the Olympics.”
‘The ABA are running the risk of losing her talent. This is the first case they have come across and they don’t know how to deal with it. The damage they are saying that can be done can be done to any woman boxer whether they have implants or not. – Telegraph
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