Taiwan’s Lin Yu Ting's Olympic gender row resurfaces ahead of British event, pulls out of competition
However, event organisers have stated that Lin was not officially registered to compete.
Taiwanese Olympic boxing champion Lin Yu-ting has withdrawn from the World Boxing Cup Finals in Sheffield amid questions over her gender eligibility.
Lin, who was at the centre of a gender controversy during the Paris Olympics alongside Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, had intended to make her international return at the competition, which began on 20 november.
The tournament is organised by World Boxing, a body formed in 2023 and comprising around 55 member nations, including Taiwan.
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The Taiwan Sports Administration released a statement confirming Lin's withdrawal, saying World Boxing had raised concerns about her eligibility despite her compliance with all criteria during the Paris Games, where she claimed gold in the women's 57kg boxing final.
"She is female, meets all eligibility criteria, and successfully participated in the women's boxing event in Paris," the statement read. It further criticised World Boxing for lacking "clear regulatory policies" like those of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and highlighted the absence of robust confidentiality procedures to safeguard medical information submitted by Taiwan.
Lin, 28, reportedly offered to undergo a detailed medical examination in Britain, but World Boxing declined, leading her team and officials to withdraw her "proactively" to avoid further distress. Lin had arrived in Sheffield a few days earlier but officially pulled out on 19 november, according to Taiwan's Sports Administration.
Organisers deny entry
World Boxing countered the claims later on 20 november, asserting that Lin's withdrawal was unrelated to their eligibility policies. "Selection decisions are made by national federations, and the boxer was not entered in the event," a spokesperson stated.
The organisation emphasised its commitment to boxer safety, noting the complexities surrounding gender eligibility. "Our medical committee has a dedicated working group examining every aspect of this area to strengthen our policies," the spokesperson added.
The controversy echoes the Paris Olympics, where Lin and Khelif faced similar allegations. The Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA) excluded both athletes from last year's world championships, claiming they had failed genetic tests.
The IOC defended the boxers, stating they were born and raised as women and had passports confirming their gender. Neither athlete is known to identify as transgender.
World Boxing, which is seeking IOC recognition to govern the sport at the Games, has faced scrutiny over its handling of the issue.
Lin's victory in Paris, where she was dubbed "Taiwan's daughter" by local media and President Lai Ching-te, marked a historic moment for the nation.
Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai voiced support for Lin on 20 november, pledging that the government would "actively strive to protect and secure her rights" to compete in future international events.
