Is it OK for biological males to compete against women?

[GMDino]

(06-25-2023, 03:33 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: I apologize for not having the hard data to support that claim.  I am a promoter of the sport of Strongman at the amature level, another fellow who trains people at the same facility hosts sanctioned powerlifting meets.  This gentleman was commenting that the lifter in question was ranked back near #100 in NCAA as a male athlete, and then went on to shatter records while competing as a female.  Like I said, I don't have the hard data on hand, but a quick google search on the topic should provide ample results.

Don't worry boss...we'll do the work for you.

Now I couldn't find some trans power lifter who went from #100 (or so) to "shattering records" but it could be the person mention in this story who had her record broken by a man who didn't like trans people competing against women and who (probably) did have the legal right (under the rules of the competition) to have lifted as a "woman".

https://nypost.com/2023/03/30/male-powerlifter-enters-womens-event-breaks-record/

Quote:A bearded pro powerlifter entered a women’s competition in Canada — and smashed a record held by a trans lifter who was watching.


Avi Silverberg, the head coach for Team Canada Powerlifting for more than 10 years, entered Saturday’s Heroes Classic tournament in Lethbridge, Alberta, after identifying as a female.

Video shared by athlete activist group the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS) shows him walking up to the platform still fully bearded and wearing a regular men’s singlet.

He then casually bench-pressed nearly 370 pounds — beating the current Alberta women’s record by almost 100 pounds.
That record — 275 pounds — was held by trans athlete Anne Andres, who was seen watching Silverberg while volunteering at the event.

Andres also holds the Alberta women’s record for the deadlift, at 544 pounds — giving her the local record for the total of all three lifts, lifting a combined 1,245 pounds.

The trans lifter won eight of nine competitions entered in the women’s category over the last four years, ICONS said.
Avi Silverberg entered Saturday’s meet while claiming to identify as female.Instagram / @everydayavi

As Silverberg broke her record, Andres stood off to the edge of the platform area, only strolling back on after the male lifter walked off.
ICONS said Silverberg “mocked the discriminatory [Canadian Powerlifting Union] policy” that allows competitors to register for events under their “gender identity and expression, rather than their sex or gender,” vowing “no consequences” for doing so.

CPU’s trans policy states that an individual “should be able to participate in the gender with which they identify and not be subject to requirements for disclosure of personal information beyond those required of cisgender athletes.”
Silverberg seemed to effortlessly smash the female record.Twitter / @icons_women
It also states: “Nor should there be any requirement for hormonal therapy or surgery.”

However, the union’s competition registration policy states that a competitor’s “government-issued photo identification (excluding Youth lifters) must be verified during the weigh-in or equipment check, including date of birth, province, and gender at all competitions.”

It is unclear if Silverberg presented a government-issued ID identifying him as a female or was required to.
Transgender lifter Anne Andres was at the event as the male pro smashed her record.Twitter / @icons_women

Repeated messages left for CPU’s board of directors and executive staff were not returned Thursday.

Silverberg is among those executive members, listed on the CPU’s website as the vice president in Alberta.

He did not immediately agree to requests to be interviewed.

Either way, according to ICONS, “what Avi so obviously points out is that policies allowing men access to women’s sports completely remove any integrity in women’s competitions.”

“It doesn’t matter how Avi expresses himself or perceives himself. He clearly does not belong in women’s sport, and neither does any other male regardless of their motivation for wanting to participate.”

Silverberg, who is also an online coach and powerlifting columnist, has not directly addressed the competition.


However, Andres posted a series of lengthy video responses calling him “a coward and a bigot” with “malicious intent.”

Still, in one clip, she openly admitted that “maybe my participation isn’t necessarily fair — you know, there’s science, whatever.”

In another follow-up, she said it was not her problem, however, because she “transitioned almost 20 years ago.”

“I got surgery — I can prove without any doubt whatsoever that I have gone through every step, which means whatever governing body decides to make decisions, I will pass that test.”

“I actually care about women in sport because I AM a woman in sport,” she wrote alongside one video.

Bodybuilding influencer Greg Doucette was among those highlighting the episode, noting how ludicrous it was for a man to so easily compete in a supposed drug-free event despite way higher testosterone.

“I think this proves a point. If a guy can just show up and then set the … record, doesn’t that prove that it’s not fair? So how long before the powers-that-be suddenly wake up, smell the coffee and understand that if you’re born a female you’re not gonna be as powerful, as strong … as if you were born a male.”
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What do you think? Post a comment.

“I’m stating facts,” Doucette said of the “unfair advantage” — comparing it to the advantage a woman would have if she entered a drag queen show against men.

“To me the answer is simple — we add a separate category, a new category, the trans category,” he said, saying it is especially important for combat sports where women competitors could get injured.

tl;dr The man did that thing y'all are afraid someone will do and just announced he was a woman and broke the records, despite (probably) not following the actual rules.  The record he broke was of a transperson who transitioned 20 years ago.

So maybe that's who your friend was talking about?  Maybe ask them so we have more clarity.

B