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World Boxing approves Lin Yu-ting's eligibility for women's boxing
Two-time world champion Lin Yu-ting has been officially cleared to compete in the women's category by World Boxing following a successful appeal of its new sex testing policy, the governing body announced on Saturday.
Background of the controversy
The 30-year-old Taiwanese boxer, who won Olympic gold in the women's featherweight division at the 2024 Paris Games, had previously been disqualified from the 2023 World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA). The IBA cited a failure to meet eligibility criteria for women's competition, a decision that sparked widespread debate.
Lin's case, along with that of Algerian welterweight champion Imane Khelif, drew global attention after the IBA's ruling. The IBA was later stripped of its Olympic recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) due to governance and integrity concerns, leading to World Boxing taking over the sport's administration at the Olympic level in 2025.
New eligibility policy and appeal process
World Boxing introduced a revised eligibility policy in August 2025, which includes mandatory sex testing to detect the presence of the Y chromosome-a marker of male biological sex. The policy also provides an appeal process for athletes who test positive for the SRY gene, allowing them to submit additional medical evidence.
Lin, who had been absent from competition since the policy's implementation, initiated an appeal through the Chinese Taipei Boxing Association (CTBA). The CTBA submitted medical documentation to support her case, which was reviewed by World Boxing's Medical Committee.
"The World Boxing Medical Committee considered and evaluated the medical documentation presented and determined that the boxer was deemed to be female and eligible to compete in the female category."
World Boxing statement
Reactions and next steps
World Boxing Secretary General Tom Dielen acknowledged the challenges Lin and the CTBA faced during the process, praising their cooperation. "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," he said. "Our eligibility policy is designed to ensure safety and sporting integrity, and we are committed to implementing it fairly."
The CTBA expressed relief at the outcome, stating that independent medical experts had confirmed Lin's eligibility. "This is a tremendous relief for Lin Yu-ting," the association said. "We are pleased that World Boxing's review confirmed she has been female since birth, meets all requirements, and has no competitive advantage."
Lin is now set to compete in the upcoming Asian Boxing Championships in Mongolia, scheduled from March 29 to April 10. Her return is seen as a pivotal moment for athlete welfare and fairness in the sport.
Broader implications for boxing
The decision follows a similar clearance for Imane Khelif, who earlier this year indicated her willingness to undergo World Boxing's sex test to defend her title at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The CTBA emphasized the significance of Lin's case, stating it "reinforces the principles of fairness, transparency, and athlete welfare in international boxing."
