An Irish champion powerlifter says she 'felt cheated' after losing to a transgender woman.
Rehana Manier was speaking as Olympian Sonia O'Sullivan said transgender people 'without a doubt' have an unfair advantage in sport.
"It's on the fringes of sport at the moment - but it's something that a lot of people are wondering about, if it's something that should be allowed or not in women's sport, Ms O'Sullivan told Newstalk on Thursday.
"That a male who becomes a transgender woman, are they allowed to then compete against biological women?
"With the science behind it all, it just doesn't make sense that they should be allowed to do that."
Rehana, who holds 18 world records, told Lunchtime Live she didn't realise who she was up against.
"I had an experience a couple of years ago, at a World Championships in 2018, I was competing there for Ireland.
"I was up against a transgender, which I didn't actually realise at the time.
"You go and check the board to see what your competitors are lifting at, and see what you need to go in to win.
"I got beaten by a transgender and [they] took my world records, which I was very disappointed with.
"I felt cheated, to be honest, that this had happened to me.
"Genetically men are obviously stronger than women; so I felt at a very unfair disadvantage".
'Separate category'
She says a new category of sport needs to be brought in.
"I think there should be a separate category, to be honest. I did file a complaint in to the federation, but I was pushed aside.
"At the time as well, the IOC didn't have proper rules in for it as well so basically we didn't stand a chance.
"I really think it's unfair to the athletes, to the women of the world, and it just seems to be getting more and more disappointing for the women who we train so hard for - especially as professional athletes.
"I think there should be a separate category, personally, it's uproar all over the world - it's terrible".
And she believes women athletes will simply stop competing unless something changes.
"I think women will stop competing if there's no one going to make a stand.
"I think something needs to be said, something needs to be done, or I think women - world champion athletes - are going to stop competing.
"They're just going to feel cheated, I think".
