Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting has found herself caught in the middle of a gender eligibility debate ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics and her bout with Uzbek boxer Shitra Turdybekova.
Lin has not faced the same level of criticism as Algerian boxer Imane Kherif, but at the same 2023 women’s world championships in which Kherif competed, Lin was also determined to have male chromosomes. Both boxers were disqualified from the competition.
Here’s what you need to know about Lynn and this issue.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Vital Signs
Taiwan’s Lin Yuting wins gold at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on October 5, 2023. (ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)
Lin is a 28-year-old boxer from Taipei County, Taiwan, who has been competing in women’s boxing matches since middle school. Taiwan News.
Lin reportedly began turning her hobby into a job “to protect her mother from domestic violence.”
Lin has competed at women’s bantamweight, women’s flyweight and women’s featherweight.
Boxing career
Taiwan’s Lin Yuting celebrates after defeating Kazakhstan’s Karina Ibragimova during the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on October 5, 2023. (ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)
Lin has been competing at the amateur championship level since 2017. She won the gold medal in the bantamweight division at the 2017 Asian Championships in Ho Chi Minh City, defeating Vietnam’s Le Thi Van. Lin was 21 years old at the time.
Lin then competed at the AIBA World Championships in 2018 where she won a gold medal in the bantamweight division. Lin has also won gold medals at the 2019 Asian Championships, the 2022 Asian Games and the 2022 World Championships.
Lin competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Lin lost in the round of 16 to Nesty Petecio of the Philippines.
But it’s the 2023 World Championships where the controversy surrounding Lin and Khelif begins.
Who is Imane Heriff? The Algerian Olympic boxer who is said to have male chromosomes
Gender debate
Lin was disqualified from the 2023 World Championships due to gender eligibility issues and was stripped of her bronze medal. International Boxing Association (IBA) President Umar Kremlyov released a statement to Russia’s TASS news agency explaining why Lin was disqualified.
“DNA tests revealed that several athletes had tried to deceive their colleagues by pretending to be women. The tests showed that they have XY chromosomes. They have been excluded from competition,” Kremlyov said.
The drama is back
Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting (left) competes against Kazakhstan’s Karina Ibragimova at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on October 5, 2023. (ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)
Lin has qualified for the Paris Olympics, rekindling the debate over the boxer’s gender.
International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams attempted to explain the incident.
“All athletes competing in the women’s division comply with the eligibility rules,” Adams said this week. “They have a female on their passport and it clearly states that they are female.”
The IBA released a new statement before Kherif’s match, explaining why he was disqualified.
“On 24 March 2023, the IBA disqualified Lin Yuting and Imane Kherif from the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships New Delhi 2023,” the IBA said in a statement. “The disqualifications were due to their failure to meet the eligibility criteria for participation in the women’s competition as set out in the IBA rules. This decision, taken after thorough consideration, was crucial and necessary to maintain the fairness and utmost integrity of the competition.”
India’s Parveen Hooda (left) competes against Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on October 4, 2023. (ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)
“It is worth noting that the athletes were not tested for testosterone, but instead underwent separate, accredited testing, the details of which are being kept confidential,” the statement continued. “This testing revealed that both athletes did not meet the necessary eligibility criteria and that they had a competitive advantage over other female athletes.”
The IBA said Lin would undergo two tests, one in 2022 and one in 2023. The IBA said it did not appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and that “the decision is legally binding.”
“Our committee rigorously reviewed and approved the decisions taken during the World Championships,” the IBA said. “While the IBA remains committed to ensuring competitive fairness in all our sports, we express concern at the inconsistent application of the qualification criteria by other sports bodies, including the body that oversees the Olympic Games. The IOC’s differing rules on these issues, in which the IBA has no involvement, raise serious questions about both the fairness of competition and the safety of athletes.”
The IOC fired back in a statement on Thursday, defending its eligibility rules and saying Khelif met all the requirements.
“These two athletes were victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA. They were suddenly disqualified without due process, as they approached the end of the 2023 IBA World Championships.”
Lin vs. Turdybekova
India’s Parveen Hooda (left) competes against Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on October 4, 2023. (ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)
Lin will face Uzbekistan’s Shitra Turdibekova on Friday at the Paris Olympics. Lin is the No. 1 seed in the 57kg weight class.
Click here to get the FOX News app
Lin’s boxing record
Lin has a record of 40 wins, 14 losses, and one knockout at the amateur level. She lost a split decision to Jusiellen Cerqueira Romeu in April in Colorado.
Lin’s Defense
New Taipei City Council member Chao Kuan-ting said on social media that the boxer was registered as female at birth, according to Taiwan News. The outlet also reported that Lin’s ID card has the number “2” indicating female status, a number that reportedly cannot be changed.
Follow Fox News Digital X’s sports coverage subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
