TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Sports Minister Lee Yang (李洋) addressed Olympic boxing champion Lin Yu-ting's (林郁婷) participation controversy Monday (Sept. 15) after endorsing an international women's sports declaration. Lee spoke to media following his signing of the "Brighton plus Helsinki 2014 Declaration on Women and Sport" (2014布萊頓暨赫爾辛基女性與運動宣言) with the International Working Group on Women and Sport. The minister's comments came amid growing concerns about gender verification requirements affecting Taiwan's athletes in international competitions.
Lin faced exclusion from the World Boxing Championships in the United Kingdom this month after the Taiwan Boxing Association (台灣拳擊協會) chose not to send her. The controversial decision followed the World Boxing Organization's (世界拳擊聯盟) failure to provide clear guidance on her gender verification documents. This development has sparked debate about fairness and transparency in international sports governing bodies' policies affecting female athletes.
President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) recently praised Lee's commitment to athletes' rights, noting his sacrifice of lucrative endorsement deals. Lee confirmed declining commercial offers after September to focus entirely on his ministerial duties. The minister visited the National Sports Training Center two weeks ago, meeting directly with Lin and her coach to reaffirm the government's unwavering support for her athletic career and competitive aspirations.
Huang Chieh (黃捷), chair of the Legislative Yuan's, Taiwan's parliament, Women's Sports Diplomacy Promotion Association, highlighted a concerning oversight in presidential recognition. The Beitou Junior High School girls' softball team captured the 2025 Babe Ruth League U16 World Championship in August without receiving acknowledgment from President Lai. Lee pledged to guarantee gender equality in future athletic recognitions, addressing the apparent disparity in how male and female athletes receive official praise. ◼
