Lin Yuting has pulled out of the upcoming Boxing World Championships in Liverpool. The Taiwanese Olympic gold medalist's withdrawal comes after submitting to a gender test required by World Boxing, but receiving no confirmation regarding her eligibility to compete.
Taiwan's boxing federation made the decision clear: "We cannot allow the athlete to travel to Great Britain without any guarantees." The organization submitted Lin's gender test results to World Boxing but hasn't received any response, creating an uncomfortable situation for the champion.
The 29-year-old found herself at the center of controversy during the Paris Olympics alongside Algeria's Imane Khelif. Both athletes were previously disqualified from the 2023 World Championships by the now-suspended International Boxing Association (IBA), allegedly for failing testosterone tests. However, they were permitted to compete in Paris because the International Olympic Committee only considered the gender listed in their passports.
Interestingly, both women went on to win gold medals in their respective weight classes in Paris, despite facing what the report describes as attacks and a disinformation campaign from conservative circles portraying them as "men fighting against women."
Unlike Lin, Khelif chose to challenge the gender test requirement through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). However, her request to suspend the testing requirement until her case could be heard was rejected. The result? Neither boxer will compete at the Liverpool championships scheduled for September 4-14.
World Boxing, the newly formed amateur federation that's organizing both the Liverpool championships and boxing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, has remained firm on their gender testing policy. Will this stance change as these controversies continue to impact elite competitors?
