Written by Matt Bozeat
AGAIN gender controversy has erupted at the Paris Olympics after Taiwanese boxer Yu-Ting Lin won a medal at the Paris Nord Arena.
Lin stormed through the final two rounds to beat Bulgaria's Svetlana Staneva to reach the 57kgs semi-finals.
Borislav Georgiev, the Bulgarian boxing coach, faced the media afterwards with a letter that read: 'I want to play only with women. I'm XX.'
Georgiev explained through an interpreter: “I wrote this message, but it comes from all the female boxers in the tournament.”
Lin and Algerian welterweight Imane Khelif both reportedly returned XY chromosome tests at last year's women's world championships in New Delhi.
Women usually have two X chromosomes, while men usually have an X and a Y chromosome.
The International Boxing Association, at loggerheads with the International Olympic Committee after being stripped of Olympic honors, held trials in New Delhi.
IBA chief executive Chris Roberts told BBC Sport yesterday that male XY chromosomes had been found “in both cases.”
Georgiev said: “I am not a medical person who should say whether Lin can compete here or not, but if the test shows that he has a Y chromosome then he should not be here.”
Georgiev was also upset that the decision was against his boxer who beat Ireland's Michaela Walsh in the previous round.
He said: “The judges stole the win.”
Lin emerged as the clear winner after a strong opening round in which he won three of the five cards.
Colchester light-middleweight Lewis Richardson last night secured Great Britain's first team boxing title with a points win over Jordanian slugger Zeyad Eashash.
Richardson led 20-18 with three cards after two rounds and shut down Eashash's charge in the final three minutes to set up a semi-final against Mexico's Marco Verde, who defeated Nishant Dev (India) in a thrilling match. south feet.
Richardson will face Verde on Tuesday night for a spot in the 71kgs final.
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