Tonight, an Olympic boxer at the center of a heated gender debate is stepping into the ring with hopes of advancing to the featherweight final and possibly clinching a gold medal.
Lin Yu-ting is competing in Paris, having been barred from last year’s World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) due to alleged issues with gender eligibility tests.
Lin, from Taiwan, aims to follow in the footsteps of Algerian welterweight Imane Khelif, who faced similar bans from the IBA and has endured harsh criticism over her participation in the games.
The IBA’s CEO recently claimed that both Lin and Khelif were found to have “male XY chromosomes,” but the association has yet to provide concrete evidence, prompting the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to question the validity of these tests.
Taiwan’s Strong Response
In response, Taiwan’s sports administration is now considering legal action against the IBA for what it calls the “continued publication of false information” about Lin’s eligibility.
The IBA, led by Russia, has been suspended by the IOC since 2019 due to concerns over its financial practices, governance, and judging. It was stripped of its regulatory status last year.
Despite these issues, the IBA has repeatedly accused the IOC of putting female athletes at risk by allowing Lin and Khelif to compete, a claim the IOC strongly disputes.
The IOC has robustly defended Lin and Khelif’s right to participate, with IOC President Thomas Bach affirming that there was “never any doubt” about their status as women.
“We have two boxers who were born as women, raised as women, hold passports as women, and have competed as women for many years,” Bach stated.
“This is the clear definition of a woman.”
On Monday, the IBA’s Umar Kremlev reiterated claims that the athletes had “men’s levels of testosterone.” However, IBA CEO Chris Roberts, formerly of Scottish boxing, noted that chromosome tests were conducted rather than testosterone tests.
Taiwan’s Legal Threat
The Taiwanese sports administration has voiced its frustration with the IBA’s ongoing commentary about Lin’s case.
A spokesman expressed strong disapproval of the IBA’s actions and announced that the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee had engaged a lawyer to issue a warning letter to the IBA, with plans to pursue legal action if necessary.
Lin’s Focus on the Fight
Lin is set to face Turkey’s Esra Yildiz Kahraman in the semi-finals on Wednesday and is assured of a bronze medal even if she loses.
This bout follows Lin’s unanimous decision victory over Bulgaria’s Svetlana Staneva earlier in the week.
Staneva, visibly upset, protested the outcome, and her coach suggested Lin should not be competing. “I’m not a medical expert, but if the test shows a Y chromosome, Lin should not be here,” Borislav Georgiev told BBC Sport.
Despite the ongoing controversy, Lin remains focused on her performance.
She expressed gratitude for the support she has received but has chosen to stay off social media to concentrate on her goal.
“I’m going to keep pushing toward the gold medal. I’ve won a bronze, but I’m aiming for gold,” Lin said.
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