Taiwanese gymnastics qualification controversy

Taiwanese gymnasts Pan Tsai-chen and Li Chia-wei lost their eligibility for the 2026 World Gymnastics Championships following an administrative error by the Chinese Taipei Gymnastics Association. After receiving notification from the International Gymnastics Federation on August 20, the Association declined the athletes’ substitute spots for the uneven bars and floor exercise without consulting the athletes or their coaches. By the time the mistake was identified, the spots had been redistributed to other competitors.

The Association issued an apology, stating the decision was made by the Secretary-General. This incident prompted criticism from the All-Teachers' Union, which called for government intervention to protect athletes from centralized power within sports associations.

In response to the controversy, Taiwan’s Sports Administration announced plans to remove the Association’s Secretary-General, Jiang Jian-dong. The administration noted that the Association failed to provide a complete explanation regarding decision-making authority. Legislators have criticized the event as a failure of sports reforms, and the Sports Administration has demanded a full review report and the implementation of emergency notification mechanisms to ensure athletes are informed of international qualification opportunities.