Taiwan Boxer, At Centre Of Olympics Gender Row, Quits World Boxing Cup Finals

Taiwan sports chiefs said Wednesday that Olympic boxing champion Lin Yu-ting had pulled out of a competition in Britain after her gender eligibility was questioned but organisers countered that she was not entered in the event. Lin, who along with Algerian boxer Imane Khelif was embroiled in a gender row at the Paris Olympics, was due to compete in the World Boxing Cup Finals in Sheffield starting Wednesday. The new competition is organised by World Boxing, which was founded in 2023 and boasts around 55 members, including Taiwan.

It was to be Lin's first international competition since Paris, but she withdrew after World Boxing questioned her eligibility, Taiwan's Sports Administration said in a statement.

"She is female, meets all eligibility criteria, and successfully participated in the women's boxing event (in Paris), winning a gold medal," the statement said.

"Unfortunately, as World Boxing is newly established and still navigating the development of its operational mechanisms, it lacks the clear regulatory policies of the IOC that ensure the protection of athletes' rights," it said, referring to the International Olympic Committee.

"Additionally, World Boxing's medical committee has yet to establish robust confidentiality procedures to safeguard the medical information submitted by Taiwan regarding Lin Yu-ting."

Lin, 28, had offered to undergo a "comprehensive medical examination locally" in Britain but World Boxing did not agree, the statement said.

To avoid further "harm" to Lin, her coach and Taiwanese sports officials "decided to withdraw from this event proactively".

Lin had arrived in Britain a few days ago and pulled out of the event on Tuesday, Hsieh Chi-ying from the Sports Administration told AFP.

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