The International Powerlifting Federation has changed its policy seemingly in response to outrage generated by a male dominating female competitions, breaking records along the way.
Male competitor Anne Andres, 40, recently defeated all female competitors at the Canadian Powerlifting Union’s 2023 Western Canadian Championship by lifting a combined score of 1,317 pounds, beating the second-place finisher by more than 450 pounds.
Andres, who claims to have transitioned to a female “20 years ago,” has broken multiple records since identifying as a female powerlifter in 2020, including in the most recent competition, Breitbart reported.
Following the fiasco, female competitive powerlifter April Hutchinson spoke out against the record-breaking performance by Andres.
“It’s been very disheartening,” she said. “Athletes have been chasing that for years. And we’re talking we’re talking top athletes who have been training and training and training.”
“My boyfriend could basically walk in tomorrow, identify as a female, compete, and then the next day, go back to being a man again. No proof, no ID required, just basically going on how you feel that day or whatever gender you want to it,” Hutchinson added.
New policy
Just a week later, it seemed the IPF at least somewhat heard the athletes, as several females reportedly skipped out on the competition due to Andres’ inclusion.
“Today is a huge win for women and girls in sports,” Hutchinson announced. “The IPF has updated and changed their transgender policy. The new policy states that all nations that fall under the IPF … has to align with the IPF policy. If they do not they run risk of being suspended,” she described.
“This is such a monumental and important day for women in sports.”
Great news! Couldnt be more proud and thankful for my friend and teammate in this fight, .@Lea_Christina4, for being resilient and unapologetic in her efforts to get this done. 💪🏼 You (and others like .@coachblade) are to thank
Nicely done .@IPF_tweet for prioritizing fairness https://t.co/JbJnkW3Ph3
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) August 22, 2023
The IPF policy appears to prioritize testosterone levels, requiring interval testing and laboratory testing upon request. The policy also requires transgender athletes to declare their “gender identity” before competing and provide a “valid passport bearing a female gender.”
“The declaration cannot be changed, for competition purposes, for a minimum of four years,” it also stated. The national or regional federation would be suspended from the governing body until it follows policy.
Both Hutchinson and activist/former athlete Riley Gaines said the change wasn’t a perfection decision, but rather a step in the right direction.
“Reminder that women are more than a testosterone level,” Gaines said. “We have to appreciate small victories to win the bigger war on women,” she added.
International Weight Lifting adds division
At the same time, the International Weight Lifting Federation has updated its own transgender policy, adding an “open division” for transgender competitors and updating guidelines for male and female competitions.
The new rules appear to capitulate on transgender ideology while still drawing some strict lines.
Competitors for male and female must compete under the gender they “are assigned” at birth or must have completed “hormonal transition before completion of puberty.”
“Bodies play sports, not identities.” ‼️
Professional powerlifter April Hutchinson weighs in on biological male who broke women’s powerlifting record in Canada…
WATCH: #SaveWomensSports pic.twitter.com/VWknsUVi9q
— Independent Women’s Forum (@IWF) August 16, 2023
He couldn’t survive and compete as a man so he became a woman…he thought. Adios loser.
Sorry but he is still a man no matter what he had done to his body!
A man is a male and a woman is still a female! It’s a mental case and nothing more!
NO ONE can “SELF-IDENTIFY” their BIOLOGY.
It’s what is between your LEGS, not what is between your EARS that determines your SEX.
“Transgender” is just another term for “MENTAL DELUSION”
TRUE! They can have all the surgeries they want to, wear whatever clothes they want to, wear makeup or not, do their nails if they want to, and use all the female mannerisms they want to; but they’ll die with the same DNA they were born with. They’ll always be a male.
The only reason these guys ‘identify’ as a female to compete is because they don’t have what it takes to beat a man. Simple as that. They’re weak in character and truth. So, they figure since they can’t beat a man, so they’ll get recognition and attention by beating a woman. Then they can at least convince themselves they can win at SOMETHING. LOL In they end, they’re just big losers.