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

New Zealand sporting bigwigs are backing Kiwi transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, after the boss of Australian weightlifting called for her to be banned from the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Hubbard, 39, meets International Olympic Committee criteria to compete as a woman, but Australian Weightlifting Federation CEO Mike Keelan said the rules needed to change because she had an unfair advantage over female rivals.

Olympic Weightlifting New Zealand Garry Marshall president said Keelan lacked any factual information to support his argument and therefore has "no leg to stand on".

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

"Laurel has met all the requirements they've asked, which includes a monthly testosterone test and her testosterone levels are lower than a normal female," he said.

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"[Keelan is] playing games and trying to niggle us in order to give the Australian weightlifter in that category a bit of an edge."

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

Hubbard, who lived as a man for 35 years and 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.

Last year her two silver medals at the US-hosted weightlifting world championships made her the first Kiwi — male or female — to win any medal in the prestigious competition.

In a letter obtained by Australia's Daily Telegraph, Keelan protested Hubbard's right to compete at international weightlifting events.

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

"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," he 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.

"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."

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

The federation follows rules set by the International Olympics Committee (IOC) on whether or not transgender athletes can compete as their chosen gender.

The IOC revised its 2003 consensus on the matter in 2015, to reflect "a growing recognition of the importance of autonomy of gender identity in society".

It canned previous requirements that transgender athletes must legally change their gender and undergo gender reassignment surgery before competing as their chosen sex.

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

The current rules state that those who transition from female to male can compete as males without any restriction. Male to female transitioners, like Hubbard, have to demonstrate testosterone levels on par with or lower than competitors born female.

In an interview with Stuff in December, Hubbard noted that she was competing under the IOC's stricter rules from 2003.

New Zealand Olympic Committee boss Kereyn Smith said IOC guidelines were "designed to balance an individual's right to compete while ensuring a fair field of play".

She said Hubbard met all criteria and had been "warmly welcomed to the New Zealand team".

"Our role is to support Laurel at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and help ensure she has the environment she needs to represent New Zealand and achieve her goals."

A spokesman from the Human Rights Commission said transgender women did not pose an unfair advantage in sports, so long as their "testosterone levels are consistent with those of athletes assigned female at birth".

"Laurel is a woman - not a man masquerading as a woman to gain medals or glory," they said.

"She is an incredible athlete, who has met the International Olympic Committee (IOC) 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 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games will be held from April 4 to April 15, with more than 6,600 competitors from 70 Commonwealth nations.

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