Andrew Crane
Lin Yu-ting, a women’s boxer from Taiwan whose appearance in the 2024 Olympics has been overshadowed by a lingering controversy, criticized the International Boxing Association for a “false” gender test — which disqualified her at the 2023 World Championships — and a process that “didn’t follow any standards” in an interview with CNA English News that was taped before the international event began in Paris, according to the Daily Mail.
“Of course it annoys you when reading some remarks, but all we can do is tell ourselves we can’t control what they say,” Lin said, according to the video’s translation, during the interview that was posted Tuesday. “Let them talk the talk, but I have a clear conscience on this. … I wonder if they were deliberately going after me. I was confused. It was kind of ridiculous.”
Lin was one of two women — along with Algeria’s Imane Khelif — disqualified from the World Championships last year, and that controversy carried over into the Olympics in Paris.
Earlier this week, IBA security general Chris Roberts said in a press conference that the association won’t reveal the results of the alleged failed tests, saying that “you can read between the lines what it means.”
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International Olympics Committee president Thomas Bach said that they won’t be involved in a “culture war,” though, and has continued to back Lin and Khelif.
“I would say it’s probably because of my appearance,” Lin told CNA English News before the Olympics, according to the outlet’s translation. “It draws a lot of attention. Sometimes when I go to the restroom, I get asked, ‘Is that the right one?’ Then I would tell them I’m a woman. It’s probably also because of my height and hairstyle. I would say, I’ve always just been who I am.
“After all, I’m a boxer. I want to pursue better results and better achievements. I would prefer to focus on improving my performance. … I can’t control what others say. After all, we live in such a free and democratic society. Everyone has freedom of speech. You can say what you want to say, but I can also decide what I want to do. I don’t have to cater to your stereotypes.”
Lin advanced to the women’s 57-kilogram final with a victory over Turkey’s Esra Yildiz Kahraman on Thursday.
The 28-year-old will face Poland’s Julia Szeremeta on Saturday at Roland-Garros for a shot at a gold medal.
She also lost in the Round of 16 of the 57-kilogram division at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Lin has defeated Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova, Bulgaria’s Svetlana Staneva and Yildiz Kahraman to reach the final in Paris.
In the interview with CNA English News, Lin said that what she cared about following the World Championships disqualification last year was that she “was stripped of a medal despite working hard” and that “a source of income was gone” because of the decision.
“As for what others or the haters said, I didn’t really care,” Lin said, before referencing her gold medal from the previous year. “After all, where were those people after the [2022] Asian Games?”
Khelif will also fight for a gold medal, with her contest in the 66-kilogram division occurring Friday.
