New Delhi: Taiwanese sports authorities have issued a strong warning of legal action against the International Boxing Association (IBA) following the organizations controversial claim that Taiwanese fighter Lin Yu-Ting is male. The dispute centers around Lin Yu-Ting and Algerias Imane Khelif, both of whom have reached the semi-finals of the womens boxing competition at the Paris Olympics and are guaranteed to secure medals.The IBA had previously disqualified Lin and Khelif from its 2023 world championships. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which oversees the Olympic boxing events due to concerns over the IBAs governance and ethics, has allowed both athletes to compete in Paris. The IOCs intervention came amid ongoing disputes over the IBAs management and financial practices.IBAs controversial statementsAt a press conference on Monday, IBA President Umar Kremlev, with ties to the Russian government, made several contentious claims. Kremlev asserted that genetic testing indicated both fighters are male and that their testosterone levels align with those of men. These statements were met with confusion and criticism, further complicating the situation.Taiwans legal threatIn response, Taiwans Sports Administration has filed a formal protest against the IBA, accusing the organization of disseminating misleading information and interfering with the Games. The Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee (Taiwan) has engaged legal counsel and is prepared to pursue legal action if necessary.Support from IOC and other officialsIOC President Thomas Bach, along with high-ranking officials from Algeria and Taiwan, have robustly defended Khelif and Lin, emphasizing that both athletes were assigned female at birth and possess documentation to prove it. The controversy surrounding their participation contrasts with their previous Olympic experience both competed in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics without such issues.Lin and Khelif are set to compete in the semi-finals, with Lin fighting in the 57kg division on Wednesday and Khelif in the 66kg category later today.
