Transgender weightlifter stripped of her world titles following backlash
A transgender weightlifter, who racked up multiple wins during the 100% Raw Powerlifting Federation competition in Virginia last month, has been stripped of her titles following backlash.
Mary Gregory, an American powerlifter and strength coach, went "9 for 9" at the April competition and broken four women's world records: Masters world squat record, open world bench record, Masters world deadlift record and Masters world total record.
However, the president of the Raw Powerlifting Federation, Paul Bossi, said on Friday the organization would be stripping Gregory of her titles after it learned of the progression of her transition.
"It was revealed that this female lifter was actually a male in the process of becoming a Transgender female," Bossi told Mail Online.
“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."
Gregory told Outsports that the decision came after representatives from the federation insisted one of their officials was present while she provided a urine sample under the guise of drug testing.
"I said, 'Well, this is kind of embarrassing for me, because I don’t have the correct anatomy,'" she told the outlet. "Still, I did my business while somebody watched me sitting on the toilet. And so that’s where that statement comes from, because I’m sure she told them, 'Hey! This girl’s got a penis!'"
Raw Powerlifting Federation seems to be following in the footsteps of USA Powerlifting, which recently passed a policy effectively banning transitioning athletes from competing against athletes whose gender matches their biological sex.