A man claiming to be female has been criticised for breaking four women’s weightlifting world records.
Known as Mary Gregory, the US transgender powerlifter and strength coach broke the Masters world records for squat, bench, deadlift and world total record.
Despite thanking the federation for accepting him as “just another female lifter”, Gregory was later disqualified by the sporting body.
‘Physiological’
The powerlifter claimed he had been receiving hormone treatment for eleven months, in accordance with the International Olympic Committee guidelines.
But 100% Raw Powerlifting Federation President Paul Bossi stripped him of his titles, saying Gregory is “actually a male”.
Bossi said: “Our rules, and the basis of separating genders for competition, are based on physiological classification rather than identification.
“On the basis of all information presented to the Board of Directors for this particular case, the conclusion made, is that the correct physiological classification is male.”
‘Unfair’
British Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies, commented, saying: “This is a trans woman”, a “male body with male physiology”.
“A woman with female biology cannot compete, it’s a pointless unfair playing field.”
She added: “The reason we have men & women’s races are because we are biologically different”.