A transgender woman is suing the governing body of women's golf in the USA because they are refusing to allow her to play in their tournaments as she was born a man.

Lana Lawless has filed a lawsuit with the LPGA which has a rule stating that all members have to be "female at birth".

The 57-year-old is looking for damages and also hopes to stop any LPGA tournaments taking place in the state of California unless they drop their ban on transgender players.

The LPGA have argued in the past that transgender players would have an unfair physical advantage over genetically-born women.

"I just want to have the same opportunity to play professional golf as any other woman," Lawless said.

"I am, in all respects, legally and physically female. The State of California recognises me as such and the LPGA should not be permitted to come into California and blatantly violate my rights."

Her lawyer, Christopher Dolan, added: "California's civil rights laws prevent discrimination against all minorities, including transgender persons."

It is not the first time the issue has come up in golf. In 2004, Danish golfer Mianne Bagger became the first transsexual woman to play in a golf tournament, but while she is allowed to play in Europe and Australia, she is still banned from American tournaments.

The International Olympic Committee also allows transgender athletes to compete if they have had sex-change surgery and two years of hormone-replacement therapy.

Lawless, a former police officer, underwent a sex-change operation in 2005.

A spokesman for the LPGA said: "We have no comment because we haven't seen the lawsuit."

Eurosport