Transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard set to compete at Commonwealth Games

Transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard is set to compete at the Commonwealth Games amid calls for her to be banned.

The 39-year, long-term professional weightlifter, transitioned from male to female in 2014 and is set to compete in the 90kg-plus competition on Monday.

Critics, particularly in Australia, who had sought to have her banned for the Games claiming she had an unfair advantage.

The New Zealander, who lived as Gavin Hubbard and competed at national level as a man until a few years ago, has been cleared to compete by both the International Olympic Committee and International Weightlifting Federation.

She finished second in the women's super-heavyweights at last year's world championships.

The boss of Australian weightlifting in February demanded Hubbard be banned from the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games because she has an unfair advantage over female rivals.

"Ultimately, it is our strong view that weightlifting has always been a gender-specific sport, male and female, not a competition among individuals of various levels of testosterone," Keelan wrote in a letter.

"In our respectful view, the current criteria and its application has the potential to devalue women's weightlifting and discourage female-born athletes from pursuing the sport at the elite level in the future.

"The International Weightlifting Federation should clarify why the current criteria are considered appropriate, adequate and fair, otherwise an alternative to the status quo should urgently be considered."