TAIPEI — Taiwan’s gymnastics governing body has removed its secretary-general after an administrative dispute over two replacement spots at the 2026 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships left two athletes without the chance to compete at the global event.
The Chinese Taipei Gymnastics Association confirmed that Secretary-General Chiang Chien-tung (江建東) has stepped down, following an order from Taiwan’s Sports Ministry over the handling of replacement invitations for the championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
The controversy has raised questions about how athletes are notified about international competition opportunities and who has authority to make decisions affecting their eligibility.
Two athletes lost replacement opportunities
The dispute centers on Pingtung County gymnasts Pan Tsai-chen (潘采宸) and Lee Chia-wei (李佳蔚).
According to reports, World Gymnastics notified the association on Aug. 20 that the two athletes had obtained replacement spots for the upcoming world championships. Pan had been offered a place in the floor exercise, while Lee received a replacement opportunity in the uneven bars.
The association ultimately declined the opportunities that same day, citing the limited time available to complete administrative procedures.
But the athletes and their coaches were reportedly not informed about the offers before the decision was made.
That became the central issue.
Sports Ministry steps in
Taiwan’s Sports Ministry said the incident affected the athletes’ rights to compete and questioned the association over its decision-making process.
Officials sought an explanation from the gymnastics association and later ordered the removal of the secretary-general under Article 43 of Taiwan’s National Sports Act.
The ministry had also criticized the association after Chiang did not attend a meeting intended to explain how the decision had been made.
Taiwan News reported that the association’s chairperson attended the meeting instead, while officials said the organization had not adequately explained the responsibilities and decision-making process surrounding the missed invitations.
Association apologizes and promises reforms
The Chinese Taipei Gymnastics Association subsequently apologized to the two athletes, their families and the public.
The association acknowledged that it received the World Gymnastics notification but focused on whether it could complete the necessary administrative procedures before the deadline, rather than ensuring that the athletes were informed about the opportunity.
It has now announced five reforms designed to prevent similar incidents.
Among the measures are immediate notification to athletes when information could affect their competition rights, regular checks of athletes’ international rankings and points, clearer eligibility and replacement rules, written notification procedures and designated officials responsible for communicating important competition information.
The association also said it would conduct a broader review of its selection and training procedures and complete an internal review report within two months.
Legal complaint adds another layer
The controversy has also moved beyond sports administration.
The families of the affected athletes, accompanied by a legislator, coaches and a lawyer, filed a complaint with the Pingtung District Prosecutors Office over the handling of the decision, with the allegations reportedly focusing on a possible breach of trust.
Any criminal liability, however, would be a matter for prosecutors and the courts to determine.
Why the case matters
The dispute highlights the importance of administrative procedures in elite sport, where replacement opportunities can sometimes depend on short international deadlines.
For athletes, receiving an invitation is only one part of the process. National governing bodies must also ensure that athletes and coaches receive timely information and that decisions affecting competition opportunities are made through clearly defined procedures.
The association says it will now establish clearer rules before each season and publicly report on implementation of the reforms.
The 2026 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships are scheduled to take place in Rotterdam, Netherlands, beginning Oct. 17, meaning the controversy comes just weeks before the event.
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