Transgender Weightlifter Laurel Hubbard Has 'Unfair Advantage' says Physiology Expert

New Zealand's first transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard will be competing soon at the Commonwealth Games - however an expert warns "she" might have an unfair advantage.

"It will depend on the individual's physique and it would depend on the sport we're talking about," said Otago University professor of physiology Professor Alison Heather.

"A man transitioning to a female has physiological advantages that they take into their new female life."

"Ms" Hubbard is first transgender athlete to represent New Zealand at international level and "she" will compete in the over-90kgs category.

"She" competed at national level as a man before transitioning in "her" mid-30s, and complies with all physical conditions put in place by the International Olympic committee.

However "her" entry has caused a storm of controversy across the ditch.

Australia's Weightlifting Federation CEO Michael Keelan wanted "Ms" Hubbard banned from competing at the Games, writing that weightlifting is "not a competition among individuals of various levels of testosterone".

And Prof Heather says there are other advantages that "Ms" Hubbard might have as a result of "her" transition.

"Males will generally have a bigger heart which will allow them to have a bigger cardiac output, they will have bigger lungs which will allow them to take up more oxygen".

"They will have stronger bones and bigger bone structure... and males will normally have more muscle mass.

"While transitioning from male to female they'll lose some of that mass, but they'll still have muscle memory which means it makes it easier for them to put that muscle back on."