19 Mar 2018

Sport: Opposition to transgender athlete at Commonwealth Games

From , 6:00 am on 19 March 2018

The Samoa Weightlifting Federation says the gold medal aspirations of one its leading athletes have been dashed by rules that allow a transgender athlete from New Zealand to compete at the Commonwealth Games.

Laurel Hubbard, who formerly competed as man, won medals in the women's over 90 kilogram division at last year's world championships - the first by a New Zealand weightlifter.

The federation's president Jerry Wallwork told Bridget Tunnicliffe that Samoa's Feiagaiga Stowers is now training for the Commonwealth Games without hope of winning gold.

President of the Samoa Weightlifting Federation, Jerry Wallwork.

President of the Samoa Weightlifting Federation, Jerry Wallwork. Photo: RNZI/Vinnie Wylie