Lin Yu-ting from Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) has now become the second boxer embroiled in a gender eligibility controversy to secure a spot on the Olympic medal podium in Paris after a heated match against her Bulgarian opponent.
The 28-year-old featherweight triumphed over Svetlana Staneva via unanimous decision, though the bout was marred by tensions, with the losing athlete’s coach contending that Lin should not have been allowed to compete.
Staneva did extend her hand to Lin, but before exiting the arena, the 34-year-old made a gesture with her fingers crossed, perhaps signifying the double XX chromosome associated with women. She later declined to answer questions from reporters.
Similar to Algerian welterweight Imane Khelif — who reached the semi-finals on Saturday — Lin is participating despite a ban imposed by the International Boxing Association (IBA) last year, which claimed a mid-competition test indicated she was ineligible for the female category, a ruling the International Olympic Committee has labeled as lacking credibility.
The IBA, led by Russian national Umar Kremlev, has lost its recognition as the global governing body for the sport due to issues regarding financial transparency and concerns surrounding the integrity of its officials and organizational culture.
After her victory, Lin shared with the media that she had disconnected from social media during the Games, stating, “I know that all the Taiwanese people are behind me.”
Staneva’s coach, Borislav Georgiev, remarked, “I’m not a medical expert to say if Lin should be allowed to compete here, but when the test indicates that he or she has a Y chromosome, she shouldn’t be here.”
He further stated, “It was evident that the representative from Taiwan was unwilling to engage in combat; she was constantly evading and employing unsportsmanlike tactics. The first round even warranted an official warning for elbowing. These antics, such as her falling down, are just a sideshow.”
“Overall, I am appalled at the circus that has unfolded. They have predetermined champions, and that’s the end of it. While this was expected, I hope there are reasonable and honest individuals watching the matches who can support women’s sports.”
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Lin, who, like Khelif, was assigned female at birth and had competed without dispute until the IBA’s decision, is set to face Turkey’s Esra Yildiz Kahraman in the semi-final on Wednesday, fully aware that she will walk away with at least a bronze medal.
During a press conference on Sunday, the IOC confirmed receipt of a letter from the IBA, but emphasized that the test results were considered lacking in credibility. The IOC reiterated that both competitors had adhered to its gender eligibility standards.
“Those tests cannot be regarded as legitimate. I can verify that a letter was indeed received,” stated IOC spokesperson Mark Adams. “However, the methodology behind the tests, their dissemination, and how they were reported is so flawed that it cannot be properly addressed.”
“This does not eliminate the possibility of a future process. Discussion on this matter can still take place. However, given the current credibility issues with the IBA, it undermines the validity of those tests and the methods by which they were conducted.”
