Transgender Kiwi weightlifter Laurel Hubbard is quietly satisfied with her win at the weightlifting world champs. Video published in December 2017.

The boss of Australian weightlifting has demanded that Kiwi transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard be banned from the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games because she has an unfair advantage over female rivals.

Australian Weightlifting Federation CEO Michael Keelan has asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Commonwealth Games Federation and the Australian Olympic Committee to consider changing the rules which allow Hubbard to participate.

Hubbard, 39, last year became the first Kiwi - male or female - to win any medal at the weightlifting world championships with her two silver medals in Anaheim, in the United States, and she was granted permission to compete in the women's event at this year's Commonwealth Games in April.

LAWRENCE SMITH/STUFF Kiwi transgender Laurel Hubbard competing in weightlifting events has polarised opinion.

She lived as a man for 35 years and her participation in women's weightlifting has polarised opinion, while drawing criticism from several of her rivals.

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* Hubbard claims two silvers at world champs

* Hubbard carrying the weight of the world

* Human Rights Commission backs Hubbard

Keelan has previously questioned Hubbard's selection in New Zealand's Commonwealth Games team, saying she had an unfair mental advantage over other female competitors because she had previously competed as a man and knew she was capable of lifting higher weights.

GETTY IMAGES Hubbard has been named in New Zealand's team for the Commonwealth Games.

In a letter Keelan wrote which has been obtained by Australia's Daily Telegraph, he again protested against the Kiwi's right to compete at international weightlifting events.

"Ultimately, it is our strong view that weightlifting has always been a gender-specific sport, male and female, not a competition among individuals of various levels of testosterone," Keelan wrote.

"In our respectful view, the current criteria and its application has the potential to devalue women's weightlifting and discourage female-born athletes from pursuing the sport at the elite level in the future.

JOSEPH MCCRAY/ELEIKO Hubbard lifting at last year's world championships in the United States.

"The International Weightlifting Federation should clarify why the current criteria are considered appropriate, adequate and fair, otherwise an alternative to the status quo should urgently be considered."

Australian weightlifter Deborah Acason, who will be competing with Hubbard on the Gold Coast, said Commonwealth Games organisers should be prepared to have difficult conversations about transgender athletes.

"For the future of women's sports, we need to talk about it," she told the Daily Telegraph.

GETTY IMAGES Australian weightlifting CEO has called for Hubbard to be banned from competing on the Gold Coast in April.

"A man is able to undergo a process of lowering hormone levels and then they are allowed to compete so that's the rules at the moment.

"It is obviously going to be an issue in every sport but weightlifting is strength related and one sport we need to look at.

"This is a massive game changer when you think about other kids and other juniors you get into the sport."

JOSEPH MCCRAY/ELEIKO The Human Rights Commission in December backed Hubbard's inclusion in New Zealand's Commonwealth Games team.

Hubbard, who previously competed in elite men's weightlifting competitions as Gavin Hubbard, is set to become the first transgender athlete to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games.

She pointed out in an interview with Stuff in December that the decision by the IOC to allow transgender athletes to compete in international events was made in 2003.

Those guidelines are followed by the International Weightlifting Federation.

"And those are the rules under which I'm competing, so this isn't a new thing," she said.

"Perhaps the fact that it has taken so long for someone like myself to come through indicates that some of the problems that people are suggesting aren't what they might seem."

Hubbard initially declined to speak with media during last year's world championships when she won two silver medals in the snatch in the +90kg class and for finishing second overall.

American coach Tim Swords, whose lifter Sarah Robles beat Hubbard to gold in both categories, said he was congratulated by multiple coaches and claimed "nobody wanted her to win".

While not responding directly to Swords' comments, Hubbard said she was warmly received by Robles, who she has a "huge amount of respect for".

Hubbard's success in the United States came after she won both the Australian Weightlifting Open and Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships last year.

The Human Rights Commission in December backed Hubbard's inclusion in New Zealand's Commonwealth Games team.

"There is no valid reason to exclude trans women from competitive women's sports. Laurel is a woman - not a man masquerading as a woman to gain medals or glory," Taine Polkinghorne, a human rights advisor for sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics, told Stuff.

"She is an incredible athlete, who has met the International Olympic Committee regulations related to acceptable testosterone levels that enable her to compete in sporting competitions.



"Participation in sport and physical activity is a human right."

The Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast take place from April 4-15.