Lin Yu-ting, along with Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, are at the centre of a gender-related backstage drama at this year's Olympics. Lin Yu-ting defeated Bulgaria's Svetlana Staneva by unanimous decision to reach the women's 57kg boxing semi-finals.

With his second win at the tournament, the 28-year-old Taiwanese boxer is sure to win a medal as the losers in the boxing semi-finals will win bronze.

Previously, Khelif was also certain to win at least a bronze medal after winning the quarter-final match in the women's 66 kg weight class on August 3.

Khelif and Lin were disqualified from last year's world championships after failing gender testing, but were allowed to compete at this year's Olympics. They also competed at the 2020 Olympics but failed to win a medal.

The controversy erupted on August 1 when Khelif needed just 46 seconds to win his opening match in the French capital, forcing Italian opponent Angela Carini to retire with a serious nose injury. Carini collapsed in the middle of the ring in tears.

Lin also previously attracted attention by defeating Uzbekistan's Sitora Turdibekova 5-0 in her opening match.

Lin and Khelif, 25, have been disqualified from the 2023 world championships organized by the International Boxing Association (IBA). This week, the IBA said the two boxers "will not undergo testosterone testing but will undergo a separate and accredited test, the details of which remain confidential."

The boxing event is organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which has also defended Khelif and Lin. IOC President Thomas Bach said on August 3 that they were born and raised women, and that both boxers’ passports clearly state that. However, the controversy over the gender of the two female boxers has not yet ended.