The Sports Administration yesterday urged World Boxing not to “repeat the mistakes of its predecessors” after Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷) withdrew from a boxing tournament in the UK due to medical confidentiality issues.
Lin’s coach, Tseng Tzu-chiang (曾自強), withdrew Lin from the World Boxing Cup Finals, which began in Sheffield, England, yesterday and conclude on Saturday.
Lin faced similar eligibility issues at the Paris Summer Olympics this year during a gold-medal run in the women’s 57kg division.
Photo: CNA
The Sports Administration called on World Boxing, an international sports federation established in April last year with the objective of keeping boxing in the Olympics, to avoid issues that could lead to boxing no longer being included in the Games.
Lin was approved to participate by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the women’s category at the Paris Games, Sports Administration Director-General Cheng Shih-chung (鄭世忠) said.
To prevent the same controversies from arising, Sports Administration Deputy Director-General Fang Jui-wen (房瑞文) and representatives from the national Olympic committee and the Taiwan Boxing Association traveled to the UK to assist, Cheng said.
However, issues with World Boxing’s medical information confidentiality procedures hindered Lin’s ability to compete, he said.
The UK tournament was Lin’s first international competition since winning gold in Paris.
“Although she agreed to undergo a complete medical examination on-site, World Boxing did not permit her to compete,” Cheng said.
World Boxing was established last year and is still developing its administrative, regulatory and confidentiality frameworks, he said.
To prevent further harm, Lin’s coach and the Taiwanese officials withdrew Lin from the event with the support of the Sports Administration, Cheng added.
World Boxing could meet with Taiwanese boxing’s medical committee, accompanied by legal counsel, to discuss Lin’s case confidentially, and help the new organization establish internal controls and safeguard athletes, he said.
Separately, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said that the government is committed to ensuring Lin’s right to participate in competitions.
As World Boxing is new and lacks some privacy mechanisms, it does not have the necessary safeguards to protect athletes’ medical information, Cho said.
The hope is that the organization would establish clear and fair rules, but until then, the government would continue to provide legal assistance to advocate for the nation’s athletes, he said.
Boxing’s status for the 2028 Olympics is unclear, following an IOC decision to no longer recognize the International Boxing Association.
In a bid to ensure that boxing would remain an Olympic sport, World Boxing was launched last year. It has the support of 55 national member federations.
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