Olympic boxer Lin Yu-ting cleared to compete after sex eligibility review

Olympic champion Lin Yu-ting has been cleared to return to international competition after World Boxing completed a review of her sex-eligibility status, opening the door for her to fight at the Asian Boxing Championships later this month in Mongolia.

World Boxing confirmed the decision Friday after an appeal process initiated by the Chinese Taipei Boxing Association (CTBA), ending months of uncertainty that kept Lin out of several top-level events since the governing body introduced a new eligibility policy last summer.

The organization did not disclose any test results, but said the appeal was handled through its established procedures and that Lin is eligible to compete in the women’s category at World Boxing events.

“We recognize that this has been a difficult period for the boxer and the CTBA and appreciate the way they have approached the appeal process and their acknowledgement of World Boxing’s requirement to ensure that its eligibility policy, which is designed to deliver safety and sporting integrity, has been correctly implemented and followed,” World Boxing secretary general Tom Dielen said.

Lin’s eligibility became a flashpoint during the 2024 Paris Games, when she and Algeria’s Imane Khelif won gold amid widespread misinformation and political noise about sex standards, even though the IOC’s rules at the time allowed both to compete.

Since taking over as the sport’s Olympic-level governing body, World Boxing has implemented a one-time genetic test requirement for athletes competing in women’s categories. It’s designed to identify the presence of Y chromosome genetic material, while also outlining additional evaluation pathways in complex cases.

The Asian Championships run March 29 to April 10, and Lin’s return adds another high-profile layer to a tournament that now sits at the center of boxing’s evolving eligibility debate.

–Field Level Media