Chinese Taipei's Lin Yu-ting defeats Poland's Julia Szeremeta in women's featherweight final
Lin Yu-ting of Chinese Taipei won Olympic gold in the featherweight division in Paris on Saturday, defeating Poland's Julia Szeremeta. The victory came amid controversy over Lin's gender identity.
Lin, who won by unanimous decision, was one of the athletes disqualified from the 2023 Women's World Boxing Championships in New Delhi after failing gender suitability tests by the International Boxing Association (IBA). Commenting on the results, the organization's president Umar Kremlev said the tests “They were proven to have XY chromosomes and were therefore excluded from sporting events.”
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has cleared Lin and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who was also disqualified from last year's tournament, to compete in the Paris Games.
Earlier this month, IOC spokesman Mark Adams said all athletes “observe the admission rules” while also questioning the tests conducted by the IBA last year. Khelif won Olympic gold on Friday, defeating China's Yang Liu in the women's welterweight final.
Both Lin and Khelif have been at the center of heated debate over their failed DNA tests, with some commentators arguing that it is unfair to allow people with male genetic characteristics to compete against female athletes. Supporters, however, say it is unclear whether the tests detected XY chromosomes or elevated testosterone in their blood samples.
Two years ago, the IBA, led by Russian citizen Kremlev, lifted its ban on Russian and Belarusian boxers, becoming one of the few global sports organizations to allow athletes from the two countries to compete under their national flags and anthems despite international sanctions. In 2023, the IOC stripped the IBA of its recognition over its alleged failure to implement governance and funding reforms and took over responsibility for boxing at the Paris Olympics.
You can share this story on social networks:
