Canadian boxer Mandy Bujold, who missed the Olympic qualifiers because she was pregnant and then on maternity leave, won her case with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Wednesday and will be able to fight during the Tokyo Olympics. “I am delighted to report that the CAS decision was released this morning. I am proud to report that my legal battle has been won, the 33-year-old boxer wrote on her social media. My Olympic dream is still intact. “
WE DID IT! pic.twitter.com/jpWHOpmwrP
— Mandy Bujold (@MandyBujold) June 30, 2021
“The court has ruled, added Mandy Bujold, who took fifth place at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Decisions of the International Olympic Committee (CIO) related to boxing qualifications should include accommodation for women who were pregnant or postpartum during the qualifying period. “
“So proud to have set a precedent in human rights”
After the cancellation of qualifying events last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the IOC decided to take into account the rankings of three competitions organized between 2018 and 2019 as selection criteria for the Tokyo Games. At that time, the boxer was pregnant and then on maternity leave.
The case of Mandy Bujold was defended by the Canadian Minister responsible for sport Steven Guilbeault, who wrote in May to IOC President Thomas Bach that “The decision to become a mother in 2018 should in no way penalize Ms. Bujold and prevent her from participating in the Olympics”.
“I am so proud that we have set a precedent in human rights for female athletes today and for generations to come”, concluded Bujold in his message.
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