Transcript
JERRY WALLWORK: I really don't think it's fair. I've seen it up in front, in person, and especially when you've got someone who was a champions male lifter and now competing with the women, against the women. I think it's really unfair - I could probably almost class it as taking drugs.
VINNIE WYLIE: There are a number of sports where this happened and there's obviously rules in place, which for the case of weightlifting is the level of testosterone had to be below a certain threshold and she has met all of those requirements so from her point of view what more can she do?
JW: You meet the testosterone levels and you get it down to a certain level but you've still got the muscles and the bones of a man and of course you've still got the strength there - it doesn't matter how low you go.
VW: So you knew going into the event in Melbourne that Laurel Hubbard would be competing in that?
JW: We found out just before we left that he or she will be competing and I was very upset about it but we arrived on the day the competition started - we missed the meeting, they had a meeting the night before. I was all ready to really put up a protest, I was against it and I thought it was very unfair. It doesn't matter whether it's our woman or someone elses woman/female - I still think it's unfair to compete against women.
VW: I guess some people would say that because she defeated Iuniarra Sipaia of Samoa that perhaps that's why you're as upset as you may be?
JW: Well people can say that but I'm just saying it doesn't matter which country. I've been a coach for 25-30 years and I've seen it up front and it does not look fair. There's a big advantage there to that side and I'm prepared to take it all the way up to the International Weightlifting Federation and I will raise it with them and argue with them that something [has to change]. Maybe set up a new division - there's nothing wrong with that, set up a new division but to go against women I still think it's unfair.
VW: Have you seen this come up in weightlifting events previously or is this quite a new development?
JW: It's the first case and doesn't matter whether it's an athlete from Samoa [or another country]. I talked to other female athletes that were they - they're actually saying to me what's the point of training and competing, we will not be able to beat these lifters - transgenders - because they're obviously much stronger, much bigger.
VW: Laurel Hubbard has been cleared by the IOC, she's been cleared by the International Weightlifting Federation to compete against other femaler lifters, there's obviously that policy in place. You say you're going to take this to the IWF Congress, which is next month in Bangkok, and I guess that is the correct place for these sorts of discussions to be had isnt't it, at the top table?
JW: I'm taking it on behalf of all the female lifters and to have a fair playing ground. You're right, it has to be decided from IWF and IOC. Whether they change it or they don't change it I'm still going to take it so we have a voice in there. We've taking our protest right to the top level.
VW: Once you've presented your case and a decision is made do you accept that either way?
JW: We can't help it. Whatever decision they make we still end up following it.