Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) - Kulsoom Abdullah is a 35-year-old with a doctorate in electrical and computer engineering. But it's her passion outside of work that has put her at the center of a debate - one that could affect athletic competitions worldwide, even the Olympics.

Later this month, the International Weightlifting Federation will take up the question of whether Abdullah may take part in officially sanctioned tournaments while keeping her entire body covered, aside from her hands and face, in keeping with her Muslim faith.

"It's what I believe in. It's what I've chosen to do," Abdullah tells CNN of her decision to wear modest garb. "I've always dressed this way publicly."

Abdullah is not an Olympic athlete, but enjoys lifting weights. She can deadlift 245 pounds (111 kg) and get up 105 pounds (47.5 kg) in the snatch, in which the competitor lifts the barbell from the floor to over her head in a single motion. She likes to compete with other women in her weight class - she generally weighs in the 106-pound (48 kg) or 117-pound (53 kg) classifications.


"I guess it's empowering," she says. "There's a lot of technique involved, so someone who's this big muscular person - it's possible I could lift more than they do. There's speed and timing to it - you have to be explosive. I think it's great just for confidence building ... I guess I got hooked."

The Atlanta resident wants to take part in tournaments in the United States, including one coming up in July. But USA Weightlifting informed her that those events are governed by IWF rules. And those rules preclude her dressing in keeping with her beliefs.

Abdullah generally wears loose, long pants past the ankles, a long-sleeve, fitted shirt with a loose T-shirt over it, and a hijab, or head scarf, covering her hair.

The outfits - officially called "costumes" - worn at competitions must be collarless and must not cover the elbows or knees, according to the IWF's technical and competition rules.

The IWF constitution also states that no distinction is made among individuals based on religion.

Mark Jones, a spokesman for the U.S. Olympic Committee - which oversees USA Weightlifting and many other sports - explained part of the challenge is that judges need to see that a competitor's elbows and knees are locked during a lift.

But the USOC also understands the dilemma Abdullah faces. After CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations - a Washington-based group that advocates for Muslims and Muslim causes - contacted the USOC on Wednesday, Jones said, his group reached out to the IWF.

Muslims are very strange people.

She can [...] get up 105 pounds in the snatch

You have to understand that there are safety reasons for the way weightlifters typically dress. They don't want competitors fumbling over their clothing and dropping a big heavy weight on themselves.

I support the Muslims' right to peaceably petition the IWF. I also support the IWF's right to set standards for the competitions it runs. Really little to see here. Now if the IWF refuses to accommodate them and they act in an extremist way, then there is an issue.

I'm completely agree. The main reason I posted it was that it's nice to see things related to Muslims and Islam being handled reasonably. We sadly get a skewed view of the world by our media, because only the sensational (i.e. bad) news sells newspapers.

Abdullah is not an Olympic athlete, but enjoys lifting weights. She can deadlift 245 pounds (111 kg) and get up 105 pounds (47.5 kg) in the snatch, in which the competitor lifts the barbell from the floor to over her head in a single motion. She likes to compete with other women in her weight class - she generally weighs in the 106-pound (48 kg) or 117-pound (53 kg) classifications.

Is it just me or is this very, very light weight? My only point of reference is that in high school, when I weight 117 lbs, I dead lifted 405lbs, and "snatched" 165lbs. Granted, I am male, and that matters a lot, but 245 and 105 for someone that competes??

It isn't skewed.

I'm completely agree. The main reason I posted it was that it's nice to see things related to Muslims and Islam being handled reasonably. We sadly get a skewed view of the world by our media, because only the sensational (i.e. bad) news sells newspapers.

I'm curious about this.

Where do you get your unskewed version of the news ?

If women in sports wore clothing that covers all their bodies, nobody would watch them. They'd lose funding, competitions would be shut down, and nobody would get paid.

Is it just me or is this very, very light weight? My only point of reference is that in high school, when I weight 117 lbs, I dead lifted 405lbs, and "snatched" 165lbs. Granted, I am male, and that matters a lot, but 245 and 105 for someone that competes??