29 Mar 2017

Sport: Transgender weightlifters competing against women unfair - Samoa

From , 4:00 pm on 29 March 2017

Samoa says it's unfair for transgender weightlifters to compete in women's divisions and plan to take their protest to the International Weightlifting Federation.

New Zealand lifter Laurel Hubbard won the over 90kg divison at the Australian International event in Melbourne earlier this month.

The 39 year old lifted a combined total of 268kg, 19kg better than silver medallist Iuniarra Sipaia of Samoa.

The President of the Samoa Weightlifing Federation, Jerry Wallwork, told Vinnie Wylie the move will discourage women from participating in the sport.

New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard

New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard Photo: Supplied: Australian Weightlifying Federation.