TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Claims that Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting (林郁庭) has "XY chromosomes" suggesting she is male are linked to an interplay of misunderstood media output and the credibility of the International Boxing Association (IBA), which was stripped of recognition over governance, finance, and ethical issues by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The IBA disqualified Lin from the 2023 International Women’s World Boxing Championships based on an alleged test that “Lin failed to meet eligibility rules,” per the IBA 2023 report. The IBA released statements on July 31 and Aug.1 regarding the issue, both refusing to disclose test details.
IBA President Umar Kremlev, who secured a major sponsorship deal for the IBA with Russian energy giant Gazprom, used Russian state-owned news agency TASS to make the claim, per Reuters and AP. Kremlev asserted that the disqualified boxers had "XY chromosomes" without evidence, per an article TASS published on March 26, 2023.
Kremlev was in China as a member of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s delegation, per China Global Television Network. He has moved much of the IBA’s operations to Russia during his presidency, and over three dozen member nations have departed to form World Boxing (WB), per AP.
World Boxing President Boris Van Der Vorst was quoted by ABC News on Friday (Aug. 2) as saying WB backs the IOC and its eligibility policies at the Paris Olympics. Furthermore, he said critics should follow the science and listen to the determinations of medical professionals and scientists.
"The pressure that there is from social media, from the press, from everyone else, it's not very helpful, and it's getting into everyone's head," Van Der Vorst was quoted as saying. "I think it's very important that when people are eligible to compete here, we have to respect them."
The claim that both Lin and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif were tested for “XY chromosomes” was later used as the title for a Reduxx article published on July 27. Other media outlets, including The Guardian and Daily Mail, quoted the contextless claims in their articles, and internet celebrities, including J.K. Rowling and Barry McGuigan, made related accusations on their social media platforms.
The two statements the IBA has released both fail to provide transparent and verifiable evidence for its claims, instead repeating that the “specifics (of the test) remain confidential.” Lin has never failed a drug test, according to Lin in an interview with CNA.
Due to allegations of corruption, financial mismanagement, and poor governance, as well as the IBA president's alleged ties to Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stripped the IBA’s recognition as the global body for boxing, per Reuters.
The IOC released a statement Friday (Aug. 2), saying “the two athletes were the victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA.” Both were “suddenly disqualified without any due process.”
The IOC added the “aggression” against the two athletes was contrary to good governance, especially given the athletes had competed in top-level competition for many years. “Eligibility rules should not be changed during ongoing competition, and any rule change must follow appropriate processes and should be based on scientific evidence.”
The Algerian Olympic Sports Committee also issued a statement on Facebook Wednesday (July 31) condemning the “unethical targeting and maligning” of Khelif, “with baseless propaganda from certain foreign media outlets.” The committee condemned the attacks on Khelif’s personality and dignity.
Both fighters have followed the rules that have been set. They are innocent of wrongdoing and should not be scapegoated or used as ammunition in culture wars.
