Taiwan threatens legal action over IBA's gender allegations against boxer Lin Yu-Ting
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Taiwanese sports officials have threatened the International Boxing Association (IBA) with legal action following claims that Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting, competing in the Paris Olympics women's competition, is "a man."
This controversy also involves Algeria's Imane Khelif, with both athletes assured of a medal after reaching the semi-finals.
The IBA had disqualified them from its world championships in 2023, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which is managing boxing in Paris due to issues with the IBA, cleared them to compete.
The IBA and IOC have been in a public dispute, leading the IOC to take over Olympic boxing due to financial, governance, and ethical concerns about the IBA.
In a chaotic press conference on Monday, IBA officials, including its president, Umar Kremlev, made contradictory statements. Kremlev claimed that genetic testing indicated Lin and Khelif were men and had "men's levels of testosterone."
In response, Taiwan's Sports Administration issued a "solemn protest" against the IBA, accusing it of spreading false information to mislead the public and interfere with the Games. The Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee (Taiwan) has hired a lawyer to send a warning letter to the IBA and is considering further legal action.
IOC President Thomas Bach, along with high-level officials from Algeria and Taiwan, defended Khelif and Lin, asserting that both athletes were born and raised as women and possess passports confirming their gender. Khelif and Lin also competed in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 without controversy, though neither won a medal.
Khelif is scheduled to fight in the semi-finals of the 66kg category on Tuesday, while Lin's semi-final bout in the 57kg division is set for Wednesday.