Liverpool : Taiwan’s Olympic gold medalist boxer Lin Yu-ting is set to face mandatory gender testing ahead of the World Boxing Championships next month in Liverpool. This new rule by World Boxing, the sport’s newly recognized governing body, requires all female competitors over 18 to undergo PCR genetic tests to confirm their sex at birth.
Lin, who won gold in the women’s featherweight category at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is no stranger to controversy. Alongside Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, she was at the center of a gender eligibility dispute in Paris. Both athletes had previously failed gender eligibility tests at the 2023 World Championships under the old International Boxing Association (IBA) but were cleared to compete in Paris by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Despite the testing mandate, Lin’s coach has confirmed she will not withdraw from the championship and will comply with all the procedures required by the organizers. The policy aims to safeguard fairness, safety, and competitiveness in women’s boxing, especially in a sport as physically demanding as boxing.
World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst emphasized the importance of dignity and inclusivity but also the duty to ensure a level playing field. The upcoming World Championships will be the first major event overseen by World Boxing, which recently replaced the IBA.
Lin’s compliance signals her determination to continue competing at the highest level despite the ongoing scrutiny, making the Liverpool championships a highly anticipated event on and off the ring.
This episode continues to fuel global discussion on gender policies in sports, reflecting the complex intersection of fairness, science, and athletes’ rights.
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