A 43-year-old weightlifter is set to become the first transgender athlete to compete at an Olympics after she managed to meet modified qualifying requirements.
Laurel Hubbard from New Zealand was born male and competed in men’s weightlifting competitions before she transitioned to female in 2013.
But other contestants and coaches have previously complained about Hubbard’s inclusion in the Tokyo Games.
According to the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC), the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) had revised the qualifying because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The NZOC said in a statement: “The NZOC can confirm that revised International Federation (IF) qualification systems are very likely to see a number of New Zealand weightlifters, including Commonwealth Games transgender athlete Laurel Hubbard, allocated an IF quota spot for Tokyo 2020.
“A previous requirement to attend six competition events has been reduced to four due to the impact of COVID-19.”
Hubbard has been eligible to join the Olympics since 2015 when the IOC issued guidelines letting transgender athletes compete as a woman provided their testosterone levels are below 10 nanomoles per liter for at least one year.
However, many scientists have slammed the guidelines, arguing they don’t do much to mitigate the biological advantages of transgender athletes who have gone through puberty as males, including muscle and bone density.
Hubbard aims to make New Zealand’s Tokyo Olympics squad to contest the women’s 87kg category.
“Prior to that all athletes must provide evidence of capability to finish in the top 16 at the Games, with the potential to achieve a top 8 placing,” the NZOC said.
“The New Zealand Team has a strong culture of manaaki (caring), inclusion and respect for all,” the NZOC added.
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