Yeah I agree with that. Sport can basically be defined as any competition that involves energy or tests physicality. In that sense, I suppose you'd probably struggle to find a purer sport than boxing considering it's literally the ultimate test of physically outlasting a competitor.

Have I missed something because I don't think anyone's mentioned banning it?

I'm not a boxing fan but why do you feel that way about the sport?

And yet, bizarrely, unions keep endorsing him and his candidates. Why?

Yes, because Belarus would never lie about anything...