Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷), who will compete for the gold medal in the Paris Olympics women’s 57 kilogram featherweight category, has been subject to multiple groundless accusations from the International Boxing Association (IBA). In an interview on Friday, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) expressed the government’s unwavering support for the Taiwanese athlete, saying that the whole country will have Lin’s back.
The IBA’s decision in 2023 to abruptly disqualify Lin and the Algerian boxer Imane Khelif from the world championship for failure to pass unspecified gender eligibility tests has raised issues this year. The organization discredited by the International Olympics Committee (IOC) repeatedly made baseless accusations that Lin and Khelif are men without providing any substantial evidence.
In a statement released on Friday, the Education Ministry’s Sports Administration reiterated that after Lin’s disqualification in 2023, a comprehensive medical examination of Lin was conducted and she was found eligible to take part in the Hangzhou Asian Games and the Paris Olympics.
Regarding the recent IBA press conference in which allegations against Lin and Khalif were raised again, the administration revealed that their lawyers have issued a warning letter to the IBA, reminding them that it is illegal to disclose personal medical privacy and information. A discussion with the IOC on legal action against the IBA is planned for after the Olympic games.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry issued a stern condemnation on Friday in response to Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky, who criticized the Taiwanese boxer’s gender at a UN Security Council meeting on August 7. It pointed out that Polyansky cited the false IBA accusations without verification and made erroneous statements that have nothing to do with international peace and security. The ministry emphasized that his attempt to use political power to influence the Olympic Games highlighted Russia’s disregard for international rules and justice.