Lin Yu-ting heavily booed and accused of 'illegal punch' as Olympic boxing row rages on
Lin Yu-ting was reprimanded by the referee
EUROSPORT
Lin Yu-ting caused controversy during her semi-final fight against Turkey's Esra Yildiz Kahraman with accusations of an 'illegal punch' on her way to victory.
The Taiwanese boxer has been at the centre of the gender eligibility boxing row at the Olympics along with Imane Khelif.
Both fighters are through to the gold medal match in their respective weight divisions.
Yu-ting, a former two-time world champion, has won all three fights without dropping a single point on her way to the gold medal bout.
Lin Yu-ting was reprimanded by the referee
EUROSPORT
However, many felt she was fortunate to avoid a point penalty against Kahraman during the second round.
Lin appeared to catch the Turkish boxer at the back of the head with a big left hand that saw Kahraman stumble towards the ropes.
The 28-year-old showed no mercy as she continued her attack on her opponent despite Kahraman facing the other way and holding her arm up.
The referee then stepped in and called 'break' just as Lin landed one more final blow to the back of Kahraman's head.
The final blow led to loud boos from the crowd inside Roland Garros, but Lin avoided being punished.
One commentator noted that it was 'perilously close to being more than a ticking off'.
They added: "That was quite a long time after the break and in the full knowledge that her opponent had turned around there, but Lin got away with that."
Some viewers felt the same way with some likening the blow from Lin to a 'rabbit punch' - an illegal and dangerous punch to the back of the head or neck.
Lin Yu-ting hasn't dropped a single point
GETTY
One person said: "Lin Yu Ting hitting Esra Yildiz Kahraman in the back of the head. Her throat is on the rope."
Another noted: "This is called a rabbit punch and it’s illegal in all combat sports, all combat sports regardless of weight or sex. Because it kills and paralyses people."
A third posted: "A rabbit punch to the back of the head is illegal in boxing."
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Esra Yildiz Kahraman performed a protest in the ring after the fight
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One other person wrote: "Lin Yu Ting got away with an illegal ‘rabbit punch’ to the back of the head in this match."
Another message read: "So sad."
Kahraman was unable to land any significant blow on Lin for the remainder of the fight with the Taiwanese fighter progressing to the final.
The Turkish fighter then protested in the ring after the bout, holding up an 'x' sign in apparent reference to the female chromosome.