Fresh Olympics gender boxing row erupts as defeated Bulgarian fighter ‘makes female chromosomes gesture’ in the ring after being beaten by ‘biologically male’ Lin Yu-Ting at the Paris games
The boxer who won a medal today has again been criticized by her opponent.
Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting defeated Bulgaria’s Svetlanak Staneva in the quarter-finals of the women’s 57kg class.
But photos show Staneva making two ‘X’s’ with her index fingers, seemingly making a comment about her opponent’s gender, a move that caused a huge stir during the Olympics.
Yu-Ting was accused of being a man by the International Boxing Federation after he failed a gender test at last year’s world championships in India.
Male chromosomes are designated with an X and a Y, while females have two X’s.
But one spectator said: ‘It’s quite shocking if that’s what she meant. That she says she’s a woman and her opponent isn’t.
Lin Yu-Ting (pictured left) has been accused of being a man by the International Boxing Federation after he failed gender eligibility tests at last year’s world championships in India
Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting defeated Bulgaria’s Svetlanak Staneva in the quarterfinals of the women’s 57kg category
“It’s even more surprising because she held the ropes open for Yu-Ting to leave the ring, which was respectful.”
The two fighters initially did not touch each other’s gloves, but the winner walked over to the loser and touched her on the shoulder after she had walked one lap around the ring.
Syaneva left the boxing arena in northern Paris without commenting.
After the match, Yu-Ting refused to get involved in the ongoing controversy.
She said: ‘I have received many messages of support from my country and from people in Paris. I thank them.
‘But I haven’t been able to read them because I turned off my social media.
“I’m going to go ahead and go for the gold medal. I won a bronze medal, but I want to win the gold.”
Shouts of joy for Khelif as she emerges victorious from Paris – one step closer to her gold medal dreams
Imane Khelif stood her ground today amid a vicious ‘hate campaign’ and took another big step towards her dream of a gold medal
Imane was seen wiping her eyes as she was overcome with emotion following her win
Imane Khelif and Anna Luca Hamori are pictured embracing and grinning
She did not comment on the controversy surrounding her participation in the Olympic Games.
She is the second boxer to face questions about whether she will be allowed to compete in the women’s Games.
The first was 25-year-old Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who came under fire after her Italian opponent, Angela Carini, burst into tears and left the match after just 46 seconds.
Carini, who is believed to have suffered a broken nose, was heard leaving the ring shouting: “It’s not right, it’s not right.”
She later told reporters that she had never received such a hard blow in her career.
But she later said she regretted the way she handled the aftermath of the fight.
“I also feel sorry for my opponent. If the IOC has said she can fight, then I respect that decision.
It wasn’t something I planned on doing [not shake her hand]. Actually, I want to apologize to her and everyone. I was angry because my Olympics went up in smoke. I have nothing against Khelif. Actually, I would hug her if I met her again.’