World’s Strongest Woman Title Revoked in Transgender Eligibility Case
Jammie Booker, the 2025 World’s Strongest Woman champion, has been stripped of the title after organizers discovered the athlete was born male. The decision marks another significant development in the ongoing debate over biological males competing in women’s sports.
Key Takeaways
- Jammie Booker disqualified from 2025 World’s Strongest Woman title
- Organizers enforce birth sex-based competition categories
- UK’s Andrea Thompson declared the new winner
- IOC preparing to bar transgender women from female Olympic categories
Competition Details and Disqualification
The case unfolded at the Cerberus Strength Official Strongman Games in Texas, where Philadelphia competitor Booker had won the Women’s Open category. Tournament officials stated they were unaware before the contest that the athlete was biologically male.
“Given this, we have disqualified the athlete in question,” Official Strongman said in a statement on social media, adding that it has a responsibility to “ensure fairness” by assigning athletes to men’s or women’s categories based on their sex at birth.
The final results have been updated to name the UK’s Andrea Thompson as the official winner.
Broader Context in Sports
This incident occurs amid increasing controversy surrounding transgender athlete participation in sports. Recent developments include:
- The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee barred transgender women from women’s Olympic events in July
- High-profile cases involving swimmers and weightlifters have intensified the debate
- The International Olympic Committee is preparing new eligibility rules for 2025
The issue gained prominence during the 2024 Paris Olympics when Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, previously ruled ineligible for World Championships, won gold. Former IOC President Thomas Bach acknowledged there is “no scientifically solid system” to distinguish between men and women in sports.
According to The Times, the International Olympic Committee plans to implement a new policy next year that would bar transgender women from female categories at the Olympics. This revision follows scientific review indicating physical advantages from male puberty may persist despite testosterone reduction.
