Wu revealed details of the plan to make clothing optional for female boxers last week at the fifth World Conference on Women and Sport in Los Angeles as he claimed: "The decision we have made is that we shall make it optional because many boxers are undecided."

The BABA have welcomed the decision from AIBA and claimed that it is one commended by Britain's top female boxers.

"Our female boxers have always been of the view that it should be left up to the individual whether they choose to compete in shorts or a skirt," a spokesperson for BABA told insidethegames.

"So they will be happy with this outcome."

BABA's comments come after some of Britain's female Olympic hopefuls said that it was unfair to force women to wear skirts if they did not want to.

"It should be optional," said Britain's European flyweight champion Nicola Adams (pictured above left).

"I don't think it's fair to say female boxers should be in a skirt; you don't see female footballers going around in a skirt.

"Boxing has always been in shorts.

"I don't see why it should change to skirts just because you're a female."


British lightweight champion Natasha Jonas (pictured above) also claimed that women should be given the choice of what to wear.

"Personally, I think it's more for the aesthetics; nothing practical is going to come from wearing a skirt.

"The only people who would want to see women in skirts are men.

"It should be the boxer's choice whether they want to or not.

"You shouldn't be forced to wear one."

International opinion has been divided on the subject with some wanting to wear skirts and others, including Ireland's three-time lightweight world champion Katie Taylor, opposed to wearing them.

"We should be able to wear shorts, just like the men," said Taylor, the overwhelming favourite for gold at the London 2012 Olympics.

"I won't be wearing a mini-skirt.

"I don't even wear mini-skirts on a night out, so I definitely won't be wearing mini-skirts in the ring."

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