Samoa's weightlifting coach has once again fired up about the inclusion of transgender Kiwi weightlifter Laurel Hubbard in the women's 91kg plus competition at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, just hours before she hit the stage.
Hubbard, who has been cleared to lift by the International Weightlifting Federation and IOC, was hot favourite for gold before being forced to pull out with injury after hurting her elbow attempting to lift a new Comm Games record.
Her inclusion has caused controversy, as she previously lifted as a man before transitioning and Jerry Wallwork has been outspoken in his criticism.
Speaking shortly after watching another of his lifters, Sanele Mao, take gold in the men's 105kg class, he spoke of his concerns to 1 NEWS' Stephen Stuart.
"We are against it, I’m against it as a coach, I think it’s an unfair playing field.
"Our young girl is going to give it her best, may the best athlete win," he said of 17-year-old Feagaiga Stowers.
"It’s against the athlete, it’s against women.
"I’ve got nothing against fa'afafine or transgender, I’ve got some good friends that are, but for them to compete in the women’s division? Maybe have their own division. Not against the women, it’s an unfair playing field. A man’s a man, a woman’s a woman. Different muscles, different bones, different strengths."
New Zealand's high performance manager Simon Kent said Hubbard, who came into camp late, was relaxed and looking forward to competing.
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