Lin Yu-ting and Imane Khelif were involved in a dispute over biological sex eligibility during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Lin Yu-ting, an Olympic gold medallist, has been cleared to return to competition at the Asian Boxing Championships after a review of her sex eligibility.
World Boxing announced its decision on Friday ahead of the Asian championships, which are set to begin on March 29 in Mongolia.Lin Yu-ting, an Olympic gold medallist, has been cleared to return to competition at the Asian Boxing Championships after a review of her sex eligibility.
World Boxing announced its decision on Friday ahead of the Asian championships, which are set to begin on March 29 in Mongolia.
Lin Yu-ting and Imane Khelif both won gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics amid intense international scrutiny and misconceptions regarding their sex.
Although both athletes met the eligibility criteria set by the International Olympic Committee at the time, their success sparked a wider and politically sensitive debate about those standards.
World Boxing took over governance of the sport last year and introduced a new sex eligibility policy in August, requiring fighters to undergo a one-time genetic test to detect the presence of a Y chromosome.
Lin has since been absent from several international competitions following the introduction of this testing requirement. While World Boxing did not disclose the results of Lin’s test, it confirmed that the Chinese Taipei Boxing Association launched an appeal regarding one of its athletes after testing last year.
Tom Dielen said in a statement that the organisation recognises the challenges faced by the boxer and the Chinese Taipei Boxing Association (CTBA), and appreciates their approach to the appeal process.
He also noted their acknowledgment of World Boxing’s requirement to ensure that its eligibility policy—designed to maintain safety and sporting integrity—has been properly implemented and followed.
Taiwan’s boxing association called the decision a “tremendous relief” for Lin Yu-ting.
In a statement, it said it was pleased that independent medical experts from World Boxing had thoroughly reviewed all evidence and confirmed that she has been female since birth.
The association added that Lin is expected to make her return to competition at the Asian Boxing Championships.
Imane Khelif has not competed in any World Boxing–sanctioned events since the introduction of the testing policy, though she has expressed interest in returning to Olympic-level competition.
She is also planning to make her professional boxing debut in April, even though professional boxers are currently allowed to compete in the Olympics.
Both Khelif and Lin Yu-ting were previously excluded from the International Boxing Association’s 2023 World Championships after being deemed ineligible under its rules.
However, the International Olympic Committee allowed them to compete at the Paris Olympics, stating that they were affected by what it described as a “sudden and arbitrary decision” by the IBA.
Chromosome testing, once common in Olympic sports during the 20th century, was largely phased out in the 1990s due to uncertainties and complexities associated with differences in sex development that the tests could not easily resolve.
Alongside its appeal process, World Boxing said it provides additional assessment options for athletes with Y chromosome genetic material who want to compete in women’s categories.
These measures include genetic screening, hormonal profiling, anatomical examinations, and further evaluation of endocrine profiles by medical specialists.
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