A New Zealand man was banned from competing in a powerlifting meet after he said he wanted to identify as a woman for the contest.
A powerlifter who held the title of New Zealand's Strongest Man is aiming to participate in the women's division of an upcoming competition to protest gender self-identification in sport.
Dale Shepherd has sent regulators scrambling to deny him entry.https://t.co/edsBIDbgJS
— REDUXX (@ReduxxMag) April 17, 2023
A top male powerlifter who entered a women’s competition as a form of protest has been told he is ineligible to compete.
Former world record-holder and multiple-time New Zealand’s strongest man Dale Shepherd wrote on his entry form for the Day of the Deads competition in Huntly in June: “I identify as a woman for this contest”, seemingly in protest on the inclusion of transgender athletes in the women’s category.
Global Powerlifting Committee New Zealand (GPCNZ) – one of two governing bodies for powerlifting in New Zealand – told Shepherd he was ineligible to compete in the women’s category as he does not meet the criteria for transgender athletes.
Shepherd, 52, who has been involved in powerlifting for more than 20 years and said he could lift more than 300kg easily, described himself as a biological “alpha” male and not transgender.
Who are these people to decide who is tranny enough to be considered a tranny? He should absolutely be allowed to compete as a woman on the day of the competition.
I think he should file a lawsuit.
