A transgender female powerlifter has been stripped of her world titles by the RAW Powerlifting Federation after they ruled that she classified as a man at the time of her victories.
Mary Gregory, who hails from Virginia, set a slew of world records in powerlifting - including in the women's squat, bench press, and deadlift categories - thanking the RAW Powerlifting Federation for helping her to feel like "just another female lifter".
"As a transgender lifter I was unsure what to expect going into this meet and everyone- all the spotters, loaders, referees, staff, meet director, all made me welcome and treated me as just another female lifter- thank you! And thanks to all the fans in the audience who cheered me on and congratulated me!"
But in a statement released earlier this month, the RAW Powerlifting Federation announced they were stripping Gregory of her titles, with president Paul Bossi saying that during a drug test Gregory was revealed to be a male in the process of transitioning, and so did not meet the criteria for a female lifter under their guidelines.
"On Saturday April 27th, the lifter exceeded the current female World Records in this lifter’s age and weight category. This automatically calls for Drug Testing protocol which takes place at the end of every event. The Drug Testing Coordinator for this event performed the drug test at which time it was revealed that this female lifter was actually a male in the process of becoming a Transgender female."
Here is Mary Gregory training for one of her events:"Our rules, and the basis of separating genders for competition, are based on physiological classification rather than identification," added Bossi in the statement, while Gregory confirmed to Outsports that the federation discovered her transition status.
"I said [in response to being asked to take a drugs test], ‘Well, this is kind of embarrassing for me, because I don’t have the correct anatomy.’ 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!’"
Per the statement, Bossi says the records Gregory broke that day will be null and void.
"Since the lifter’s gender classification for the purpose of our rules is not consistent with female, no female records will be broken by these lifts," he explained, though he confirmed that the Powerlifting Federation was in the process of devising a Transgender policy, as well as a new division.