The world of women’s boxing faces another controversy as Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting becomes the second Olympic gold medalist to withdraw from major international competition over chromosome testing requirements. The Chinese Taipei Boxing Association announced Monday that Lin would not participate in the 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool after failing to receive clarity on her eligibility status from World Boxing officials.
This development mirrors the ongoing legal battle waged by Algeria’s Imane Khelif, who has taken her challenge against mandatory genetic testing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Both boxers captured Olympic gold at the 2024 Paris Games amid intense scrutiny over their participation in women’s categories, and now find themselves sidelined by World Boxing’s controversial new testing protocols.
The controversy surrounding both athletes centers on what medical experts describe as differences of sexual development (DSD), rather than transgender identity. According to analysis from the Wall Street Journal, the most probable condition affecting both boxers is 5-alpha reductase deficiency, where individuals have XY chromosomes and internal testes but develop female-appearing external anatomy due to a genetic mutation. This condition often goes undetected until puberty, when testosterone production can lead to masculine physical development.
Lin’s withdrawal represents the latest chapter in a tumultuous period that began with her disqualification from the 2023 Women’s World Boxing Championships by the International Boxing Association, which claimed she had failed sex verification tests. The IBA, later stripped of Olympic recognition over governance issues, renewed its challenges during the Paris Olympics despite the International Olympic Committee’s continued confirmation of both boxers’ eligibility.
World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst previously apologized for the lack of clear gender testing policies after Lin was forced to withdraw from a UK competition in late 2024. However, the organization doubled down on its stance in May 2025, mandating that all athletes over 18 undergo PCR genetic tests to determine their biological sex at birth.
The Taiwanese boxing association expressed frustration over the lack of transparency, stating they had assembled a medical team of genetics, physiology, and sports medicine experts over a month ago to address testing concerns. Despite submitting all relevant documentation and actively communicating with World Boxing since August, officials received no response by Monday’s departure deadline.
“The matter of Lin’s eligibility cannot drag on like this,” the association declared, emphasizing their decision was made to protect their athlete from traveling without guaranteed participation rights.
Meanwhile, Khelif’s legal challenge continues to unfold through international arbitration. She filed her appeal on August 5, specifically seeking eligibility for the World Boxing Championships. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport denied her request for emergency suspension of the testing requirements on September 1, meaning the controversial protocols remain in effect during proceedings.
The dispute gained additional complexity when speculation about Khelif’s retirement emerged through statements from her former manager. The Olympic champion swiftly dismissed these claims via Facebook, declaring that her ex-representative “no longer represents me in any way” and had “betrayed the trust and betrayed the country with his false and purposeful statements.”
“I have never announced my retirement from boxing, but I am still committed to my sport career, I train regularly and maintain my fitness between Algeria and Qatar, in preparation for the upcoming merits,” Khelif stated. She emphasized her continued dedication to boxing and Algeria, adding that “such rumors are spreading only to disrupt and insult my athletic and professional career.”
With World Boxing officials indicating they need four to six weeks for policy discussions, both Lin and Khelif face an uncertain timeline for their competitive futures.
