Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷) on Tuesday said that she would cooperate with the authorities to clarify why she failed a blood-based gender eligibility test administered by the International Boxing Association (IBA).
Lin on Thursday last week finished third in an amateur boxing tournament held by the IBA in New Delhi, but was stripped of her medal two days later for failing the test.
The IBA did not give any reasons for the disqualification at the time. It formally notified Lin and her coach John Tseng (曾自強) on Sunday that Lin failed to meet eligibility requirements based on the results of a biochemical test administered in India on March 16.
Photo: CNA
Speaking to reporters upon arrival at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Tuesday, Lin said she would work with the Sports Administration and the National Sports Training Center to clear up the issues that caused her to fail the test.
Lin, 27, said it was the first time she has encountered such a situation.
An appeal was filed with the IBA challenging the revocation of Lin’s third place in the women’s featherweight (54-57kg) category quarter-finals, but it was rejected, Tseng said.
Tseng said he believes Lin’s disqualification is not related to doping and urged the public to refrain from speculation while the authorities try to collect as much information on the test results as possible.
Sports Administration Director-General Cheng Shih-chung (鄭世忠) said that a gender verification test was arranged for Lin on Tuesday.
Cheng urged the public to give Lin space by not speculating on the test results, which would come out within two weeks.
The IBA previously determined eligibility for women’s sports events based on biological sex traits. This is the first time a Taiwanese athlete has been required to take a biochemical test for gender eligibility since the IBA started to use the new testing method earlier this year.
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