‘Prophet’ in court to push for wrestling, boxing ban
A self-proclaimed prophet has appealed the decision of Sports Disputes Tribunal which declined to ban boxing and wrestling sports.
‘Prophet’ Mdodoki Kamau, in a certificate of urgency, wants the High Court to set aside a judgment delivered on October 22 by the tribunal that dismissed his petition to ban boxing and wrestling sport on religious grounds.
Kamau had filed his petition on July 30 at the tribunal seeking the ban of the sports, saying they were against biblical teachings.
“My basis was spiritual and that the two sports are violent in nature and a health hazard as they have led to poor blood circulation, heart attacks, dental accidents, eye sight problems, brain deformation, mental sickness, kidney harm among other consequences to persons that participate in the sports,” he said in court documents.
He argued that boxing had endangered Kenyan lives, citing boxer Conjestina Achieng who is battling mental illness, Mohamed Ali who died of Parkinson disease and Robert Wangila who succumbed to death due to boxing.
Right to life
It was his contention that there are other sports Kenyans can participate without endangering their lives and cites Article 24 on the right to life, Article 27 on the equality before the law and Article 29 on the right to freedom and security.
The church minister argued the holy bible does not support the two and quotes the book of 2 Corinthians and Proverbs 25:2.
The tribunal, however, dismissed his petition, arguing participation in sports, especially boxing and wrestling are consensual in nature and are regulated by the state.
The tribunal noted that there was biblical basis for sports and quoted 2 Timothy 2:5 and 1 Corinthians 9:24-25.
“Such scripture references to sports show that sports have been part of Christian faith .Whereas the petitioner has issues with boxing and wrestling, we have not been able to locate anywhere in the bible where the two sports go against the teachings of Christian faith,” read the tribunal ruling.
