Transgender weightlifter pulls out of event with injury
Transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard has withdrawn from her event due to an elbow injury.
Earlier a Commonwelath Games boss said the discourse surrounding New Zealand weightlifter Hubbard is clearly an issue the sport needs to deal with.
The 40-year-old transgender athlete was set to compete in the women's 90kg-plus category on Monday but was injured while attempting a Commonwealth Games record lift.
She lifted 120kg but injured her elbow after attempting 132kg with her third effort.
New Zealand's Laurel Hubbard will compete on Monday.
Photo: AAPHaving set New Zealand junior records as a male before her transition, Hubbard's inclusion on the Gold Coast has led to claims from opponents that she holds an unfair advantage.
Australia's weightlifting association tried unsuccessfully to have her selection overturned while on Sunday Samoan head coach Jerry Wallwork said he remains firmly opposed to Hubbard competing.
"A man is a man and a woman is a woman and I know a lot of changes have gone through but in the past Laurel Hubbard used to be a male champion weightlifter," Wallwork said.
Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive David Grevemberg said while Hubbard is eligible to compete under international weightlifting guidelines, it is clearly an issue that needs further discussion.
"This is something that members have expressed various opinions on and it's something that the weightlifting community needs to come together and have some robust debate, discussion, on," Grevemberg said.
"Team New Zealand has done a tremendous amount of effort and work to promote the opportunity that the athlete has to compete ... recognising some of the contentious behaviour around this and discourse that's been created has also looked to respect and protect the athlete in this environment."
AAP and Reuters