Lin Yu-ting's opponent sparks fresh Olympics controversy with protest in ring after defeat

Svetlana Staneva performed a double-x protest in the ring

Svetlana Staneva performed a double-x protest in the ring

DISCOVERY
Stuart Ballard

By Stuart Ballard


Published: 04/08/2024

- 19:12

Lin Yu-ting is one of two boxers competing at the Paris Olympics having previously been disqualified from the women's world championships.

The women's boxing row at the Paris Olympics isn't going away anytime soon after Svetlana Staneva made a protest in the ring following her defeat to Lin Yu-ting.

The Chinese Taipei athlete is one of two fighters competing in women's boxing at the Paris Olympics despite being disqualified from last year's world championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA).


The governing body's chief executive Chris Roberts has claimed that the male XY chromosome was found in tests conducted on both Yu-ting and Imane Khelif.

But the IOC has cast doubt on the reliability and legitimacy of the tests conducted by the IBA.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspended the IBA back in 2019 and stripped it of its status as boxing's world governing body last year.

Svetlana Staneva performed a double-x protest in the ring

Svetlana Staneva performed a double-x protest in the ring

DISCOVERY

In the midst of the ongoing row, both Khelif and Yu-ting have been continuing their charge to win a medal for their respective nation.

Khelif guaranteed herself a medal in the women's 66kg category in an emotionally-charged setting on Saturday as she won unanimously against Luca Hamori.

Yu-ting's quarter-final in the 57kg weight category was scheduled for Sunday as she faced off against Staneva.

The 28-year-old, who is favourite to win gold, followed in the footsteps of Khelif by comfortably winning her contest against Staneva.

The two fighters shook hands in the ring, but Staneva pointed to her chest before making an 'X' with her fingers seemingly in reference to the double XX chromosome of a woman.

It was also reported that she was shouting 'no, no' after losing the quarter-final contest.

Staneva gave no explanation for her gesture in the ring as she walked past journalists in the media pen.

But the Bulgarian's coach, Borislav Georgiev, spoke out about the testing system currently in place.

“I am not a medical person so I shouldn’t say if Lin should or should not compete,” Georgiev told the BBC.

“But when the test shows that he or she has the Y chromosome she should not be here.”

Lin Yu-ting won unanimously

Lin Yu-ting won unanimously

GETTY


Bulgarian media also reported that Georgiev held up a piece of paper, which read: "I only want to play with women I am XX."

He added later: “This is maybe the message from every single woman boxer in this tournament."

Yu-ting wasn't asked by Taiwanese TV about the furore surrounding her involvement in the Olympics, but paid tribute to the support she's felt from back home.

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Lin Yu-ting is now guaranteed a medal

Lin Yu-ting is now guaranteed a medal

GETTY

“It’s a very uneasy step… Winning this match doesn’t mean I can relax,” Lin was reported to have said.

“I’ve received a lot of supportive messages. I haven’t read them because I shut down my social media.

"The entire population of Taiwan are supporting me so I am going to take that strength to hopefully go all the way to the end.”

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