Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting returned to action with a controversial knockout victory in just 94 seconds during the Taiwan National Games. However, rather than a triumphant comeback, it is a scandal because she fought as a "woman" and pummeled her female opponent.
Lin reappeared after almost a year without official bouts, after being crowned "Olympic champion" in Paris 2024. Her absence was due to the disqualification suffered at the 2023 World Championships, when she failed to pass the gender eligibility tests imposed by World Boxing, the international boxing organization.
The bout, held in Taipei, was brief and uneven, where experienced Lin overpowered Pan Yan-fei, a 19-year-old university student making her debut in the category. After several direct blows to the face, Pan's coach threw in the towel at the start of the second round. Although the young woman received medical attention and is out of danger, the scene caused discomfort among those present and reignited the debate over whether Lin should have been allowed to compete.
The boxer benefited from an exception in the national regulations, since the National Games do not require the mandatory genetic tests that World Boxing has enforced since August. Meanwhile, while the international circuit remains closed to her, Lin found a loophole to claim her seventh consecutive title in the local championship.
