Sport|BoxingLin Yu-ting cleared to return to boxing after sex eligibility reviewLin and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif were embroiled in a dispute over biological sex at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Olympic gold medal-winning boxer Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan has been cleared to compete at the Asian Boxing Championships following a review of her sex eligibility.
Olympic gold medal-winning boxer Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan has been cleared to compete at the Asian Boxing Championships following a review of her sex eligibility.
World Boxing, the governing body at the Olympic level, announced its decision prior to the commencement of the Asian Championships on Fri, Mar 29, 2025, in Mongolia.
World Boxing implemented a sex eligibility policy last August, requiring fighters to undergo a one-time genetic test to identify the presence of a Y chromosome. Lin has not participated in several international events since this requirement was introduced. Although the results of Lin's test were not disclosed, World Boxing acknowledged an appeal by the Chinese Taipei Boxing Association regarding a test conducted last year.
World Boxing Secretary-General Tom Dielen stated, "We recognize that this has been a challenging period for the boxer and the CTBA and appreciate their approach to the appeal process, ensuring our eligibility policy is correctly implemented and followed."
Olympic gold medal-winning boxer Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan has been cleared to compete at the Asian Boxing Championships following a review of her sex eligibility.
The Taiwanese boxing association expressed relief at the decision. "We are pleased that World Boxing's independent medical experts thoroughly reviewed all evidence and confirmed that she has been female since birth," the association stated. Lin is set to make her return at the Asian Boxing Championships.
Similarly, Imane Khelif of Algeria, who has also been subject to the same eligibility tests, has not competed in World Boxing-sanctioned events since the policy's introduction. She plans to debut in professional boxing in April, with professional fighters now permitted to compete in the Olympics.
Lin and Khelif were excluded from the International Boxing Association's (IBA) 2023 World Championships due to failing eligibility tests. However, the IOC allowed their participation in Paris, citing a "sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA."
Chromosome testing was common in Olympic sports in the 20th century but was largely abandoned in the 1990s due to unresolved ambiguities. In addition to the appeal process, World Boxing offers further analysis for athletes with Y chromosome material wishing to compete in women's categories, including genetic screening, hormonal profiles, anatomical examination, and further evaluation by medical specialists.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
