Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting’s opponent shouted ‘no, no’ following her defeat at the Paris Olympics
The second athlete who previously failed an unspecified gender eligibility test is through to the semi-finals at the Paris Olympics and is guaranteed a medal.
Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting beat Bulgarian Svetlana Staneva by an unanimous decision at the Olympics on Sunday, leading to Staneva’s coach suggesting Lin ‘should not be’ at the Paris Games.
The Taiwanese boxer had previously failed the IBA’s gender eligibility test in 2023 – a similar fate suffered by her fellow Olympian Imane Khelif.
The IBA’s president Umar Kremlev released a statement at the time of the athlete’s dismissal, alleging that their gender and testosterone tests ‘proved they had XY chromosomes’.
Both Lin and Khelif have competed in the women’s division for boxing and are recognized by the International Olympic Committee as female athletes.
The IOC slammed Lin and Khelif disqualification from the world championships in 2023, saying that they were ‘victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA’.
Lin Yu-ting has made the semi-finals. (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
In Lin and Staneva’s fight, the Bulgarian had complained about Lin’s apparent use of her elbows.
Immediately after the match, Lin went in for an embrace but was ignored by Staneva, the Telegraph reports.
Staneva also shouted ‘no no’ after losing, but then opened the rope to allow Lin to leave, seemingly as a mark of respect.
Staneva’s coach Borislav Georgiev, however, told BBC Sport: “I’m not a medical person who should say if Lin could compete or not here, but when the test shows that… she has the Y chromosome she should not be here.”
Both Lin and Khelif and are now guaranteed an Olympic medal after making it through to the semi-finals.
Lin will face Turkey’s Esra Yildiz Kahraman on Wednesday, while Khelif takes to the ring on Tuesday against Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng for her bout.
The Taiwanese boxer’s next bout is on Wednesday. (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
The Algerian won an unanimous points decision against Hungarian Anna Luca Hamori on Saturday.
After the fight, Khelif appeared emotional as she spoke to the media with her native Algerian flag wrapped around her neck.
“I dedicate this medal to the world, and to all the Arabs and I tell you, ‘Long live Algeria!’” she said following the fight.
“I want to tell the entire world that I am a female, and I will remain a female,” the boxer added.
Khelif’s father, Amar Khelif, has previously dubbed the attacks on his daughter as ‘immoral’.
He told Reuters: “It is not fair. She made us proud many times, she honored our country and our flag many times and she always made us happy with her results.
“These critics aim to destabilize her to fail in the wrestling ring but she is a champion and she will remain a champion.”
