ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia — Lin Yu-ting achieved a decisive victory in her first international match since the 2024 Paris Olympics at the Asian championships on Tuesday, following confirmation from World Boxing that she passed a genetic test.
The first Olympic boxing champion from Taiwan triumphed over Thananya Somnuek of Thailand with a score of 5-0 in the round of 16 in the 60-kilogram category. This victory set up a quarterfinal matchup against division frontrunner Ayaka Taguchi of Japan.
The 30-year-old Lin received clearance to participate in the event less than two weeks prior.
World Boxing assumed the role of the sport’s governing body for Olympic-level competitions last year and introduced a sex eligibility policy in August, mandating that all competitors undergo a one-time genetic test to detect the presence of a Y chromosome.
Two-time world champion Lin secured her place in the Asian championships in December by defeating fellow Taiwanese boxer Wu Shih-yi, who earned a bronze medal in the 60kg category at the Paris Olympics. However, World Boxing did not verify Lin’s eligibility until March 19, and the announcement specified her participation in World Boxing events only.
It remains uncertain whether Lin will need to undergo additional genetic testing if she aims to compete again at the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee revealed new regulations last week prohibiting transgender athletes and instituting a mandatory genetic test to be conducted once in an athlete’s lifetime.
Lin and Imane Khelif of Algeria both secured gold medals at Paris amidst global scrutiny and misunderstandings regarding their sex. While both athletes complied with the eligibility criteria established by the IOC, which oversaw the Paris tournament, their achievements ignited a politically charged discussion surrounding those standards.
