Gay Today: World

International Boxing Federation to Probe Homophobia?

Compiled by GayToday

London, England--The International Boxing Federation is considering an investigation into the homophobic campaign against British world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis.

Referring to the taunts by rival boxers about Lewis's sexuality, IBF President, Marian Muhammad, admitted: "I do not think it is right...may be we should look into it".

IBF Champion Lennox Lewis: Victim of homophobic smear campaign?

Ms. Muhammad was speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today program.

She initially brushed off criticisms about the IBF's failure to condemn the homophobic campaign against Lewis by claiming "it's about banter and antics"

Later in the interview she justified the IBF's inaction by saying the anti-gay taunts against Lewis had "never been bought to our attention".

After conceding that similar racist taunts would be unacceptable, Ms. Muhammad was quizzed on whether there was a case to answer over homophobic abuse. She replied: "It's possible".

Ms. Muhammad was responding to criticisms from the human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who was also interviewed on the Today program.

Mr. Tatchell repeated his call for boxing chiefs to take a stand against "racism, homophobia and all other forms of bigotry. They have no place in boxing or any other sport".

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Related Sites:
International Boxing Federation

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Last week Mr. Tatchell wrote to the British Boxing Board of Control urging the BBBC and international boxing authorities to take disciplinary action against Mike Tyson and Hasim Rahman over their homophobic insults.