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1 year ago
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President of Canada's powerlifting body has resigned less than a week after suspending a female athlete for criticizing a record-breaking transgender rival.
Shane Martin, Canadian Powerlifting Union (CPU) president, submitted his letter of resignation on Sunday, November 12.
'This position has become something I no longer recognize and I am not the one to lead this organization,' he said in his resignation.
His decision came just days after the organization suspended powerlifter April Hutchinson for an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored in August where she remarked on the 'physical advantages that a male has over a female.'
Hutchinson told DailyMail.com of Martin's resignation, 'Anyone especially a federation leader that does not protect women and ensure fairness in sport should rightfully so resign.'
President of Canadian Powerlifting Union resigned less than a week after suspending a female athlete for criticizing a record-breaking transgender rival
April Hutchinson praised his resignation, just days after she was set to be suspended by CPU for criticizing a transgender competitor
She began powerlifting four years ago, and said she started her campaigning against transgender athletes' inclusion in biological female categories around a year ago.
Despite being warned almost immediately she would be banned for her stance, she said she continued speaking out for the past year because, essentially, 'we have no policy at all to protect women and girls in sports.'
After slating the transgender athlete on TV, Hutchinson became the focus of an ethics investigation by the governing body, which she tweeted the results of.
'I now face a two-year ban by the CPU for speaking publicly about the unfairness of biological males being allowed to taunt female competitors and loot their winnings,' Hutchinson said.
'Apparently, I have failed in my gender-role duties as “supporting actress” in the horror show that is my #sport right now.
'This... Even though a 13-page letter was sent to the CPU in October thoroughly debunking all accusations. Obviously, someone had to pay the price for the IPF forcing CPU to be more female-friendly.
'Let this be a lesson to all female athletes to shut-up and put-up with #SexDiscrimination. In truth, my fight does not stop here.'
Hutchinson told DailyMail.com she plans to appeal the decision by the union to suspend her.
She shared her frustration in a fiery opinion piece for DailyMail.com where she pleaded for fairness in the sport and slammed trans competitor Anne Andres for mocking her female rivals as 'weak.'
She said Andres was 'taking to social media to mock females, to belittle us as weak, to rub it in our faces.'
At one point Andres even characterized a female rival as having 'little T-Rex arms'.
She said that when Andres won another contest, watching her put a stuffed toy T-Rex on the podium appeared particularly pointed - especially as she noted that the only two others on the podium were only there as every other competitor had dropped out.
Hutchinson said she was threatened with a suspension when she complained too, but said she won't stop her campaigning.
'Andres has been allowed to compete, take the podium in place of a biological woman and set national records that may never be broken,' she concluded.
'Everyone knows this is unethical. But the federation has been too cowardly to do anything because the Canadian government protects "gender identity" from discrimination, alongside race, gender and sexual orientation,' she said.
'As a result, the rights of biological women are trampled. Women must demand fairness, but even that is not enough.'
In August, Andres set a new Canadian woman's national record at the CPU National Championships – which is also an unofficial women's world record.
Andres lifted a total 597.5kg across the squat, bench and deadlift disciplines - 200kg more than her closest opponent, SuJan Gill.
Hutchinson began powerlifting four years ago, and said she started her campaigning against transgender athletes' inclusion in biological female categories around a year ago
Transgender athlete Anne Andres was criticized for remarks she made earlier this year about her female competitors, who she said were 'so bad' at bench press - she described one as having 'little T-Rex arms'
Andres sparked backlash in August when she captured the Canadian women's national record, beating out her nearest competitor by over 200kg in total
Following Andres sweep, the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) issued the CPU with an ultimatum to align with the international governing body's rules on transgender competitors after trans competitor Anne Andres trounced her female competitors.
IPF rules state that competitors must prove their gender identity with government-issued ID and disclose their testosterone levels, mirroring similar policies by international sports governing bodies.
Martin said in his resignation adjusting to these rules is not what he signed up for and somebody else would be better suited for the job.
'I wanted to focus on increasing budgets for refereeing and coaching, but the last year has shifted into something I can no longer do,' Martin said.
Hutchinson believes the policy is 'very strict' to get through.
'It's protecting women. The IPF have stepped in. They don't believe in discrimination against women, and it's not fair, so this policy is a step in the right direction for women and girls and sports,' she said.
'Right now, that means that Anne cannot lift. [She] will have to apply and go through all the testing, get all the medical documentation - it could take years.'
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