Boxing ACT has lodged an appeal with the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) in an attempt to overturn the decision to increase the age limit from 10 years of age.

NSW is the only state or territory which enforces a boxing age of 14, with a large contingent from across the border expected to be affected by the change at an amateur boxing tournament in Canberra on Saturday night.

Boxing ACT is required to seek a permit from the ACT Government each time it holds an event for junior boxers.

Approval was forthcoming for this weekend’s event, but Boxing ACT only received notification on Tuesday that all contestants must be 14 years or older.Up to a dozen Canberra boxers aged between 10 and 13 would be affected by the increase, with many more expected from interstate.

Boxing has rules in place to protect younger competitors, such as a mandatory 30-day period out of the ring for a concussion and a limit of a 2kg weight difference between fighters under the age of 16.

Boxing ACT is seeking an interim order to allow Saturday’s tournament to go ahead, and believes the Government’s decision is an unreasonable misuse of executive power to restrict the operation of its sport without consultation of those effected.

Boxing ACT holds between four and five tournaments a year for the past decade for junior amateurs.

The official said the ACT Government has approved each previous application without expressing any concern.