The boxer who became Thailand's first Olympic gold medalist was convicted of sexual assault charges involving a minor and sentenced on Thursday to just over three years in prison.

Thailand joins Nepal and Taiwan as the only Asian nations to legalise LGBT unions, amid repressive regimes and religious traditions

Somluck Kamsing, 52, was sentenced to over three years in prison after being found guilty of attempted rape and abduction of a minor. The retired boxer, who became Thailand's first Olympic gold medalist in 1996,

Somluck Kamsing won featherweight title at Atlanta Games in 1996, but is now better known as actor on Thai television.

Hundreds of LGBTQ+ couples in Thailand are expected to make their wedded status legal on the first day a law takes effect granting them the same rights as heterosexual couples.

After the incident, Somrak had revealed that he had met the girl at a pub in Khon Kaen and claimed he did not know she was a minor when he took her to the hotel. He said he stopped all sexual activity upon learning she was underage. However, he did acknowledge undressing and caressing the girl before falling asleep.

The boxer who became Thailand’s first Olympic gold medalist has been convicted of sexual assault charges involving a minor and sentenced to just over three years in prison.

The boxer who became Thailand’s first Olympic gold medalist has been convicted of sexual assault charges involving a minor and sentenced to just over three years in prison BANGKOK -- The boxer ...

Thailand has long been known as a haven for LGBTQ+ communities. It is only the third place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, behind Taiwan in 2019 and Nepal in 2023.

It's a big week for LGBTQ+ couples in Thailand. On Thursday, they will be able to legally register their marriages, making it only the third place in Asia, after Taiwan and Nepal, where they have such a right.

The breakthrough came in March 2024, when Parliament approved the equal marriage law with overwhelming support – 400 votes in favor, two abstentions and three no-shows. The Senate followed in June with 130 supporting votes, leading to the law’s enactment in September.