World Boxing clears Lin Yu-ting to return after mandatory sex test
Olympic featherweight champion Lin Yu-ting has been cleared to compete by World Boxing after undergoing the governing body’s newly implemented mandatory sex testing protocols.
The 30-year-old won gold for Chinese Taipei at the Paris 2024 Games but found herself at the centre of a global eligibility row alongside Algeria’s Imane Khelif.
Both fighters were previously disqualified from the 2023 World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
The IBA had controversially claimed both athletes failed to meet the necessary criteria for participating in women’s competition.
New Governance and Testing Protocols
The International Olympic Committee subsequently stripped the IBA of its global status following severe integrity and governance issues.
World Boxing has since taken over the sport’s administration at the Olympic level and sought to clarify participation rules.
The new governing body introduced a strict eligibility policy in 2025 that includes mandatory genetic testing for all athletes.
This procedure specifically detects the presence of the SRY gene, which acts as a primary indicator of a male biological Y chromosome.
Medical Evidence Secures Return
The Chinese Taipei athlete was required to undergo the new screening process, which prompted her national association to initiate a formal medical appeal.
Following the submission of extensive biological documentation, the World Boxing Medical Committee evaluated the evidence and conclusively ruled her eligible for the female category.
The governing body confirmed that the Olympic gold medallist, who missed several recent competitions, can immediately resume her international career.
Relief and Official Reactions
World Boxing secretary general Tom Dielen praised the cooperative and transparent approach taken during the evaluation.
“We recognise that this has been a difficult period for the boxer and the CTBA, and appreciate the way they have approached the appeal process.” – Tom Dielen
The Chinese Taipei Boxing Association released a swift public statement expressing their profound relief over the final verdict.
“We are pleased that World Boxing’s independent medical experts thoroughly reviewed all evidence and confirmed that she has been female since birth.” – Chinese Taipei Boxing Association
