The 2025 Official Strongman Games Women’s Open Championship ended in controversy this past weekend in Arlington, Texas, after Philadelphia-based athlete Jammie Booker was stripped of her title just days after winning it.
Booker, a personal trainer and rising star in strength sports, edged out past world champion Andrea Thompson of Great Britain by a single point to claim victory. But what should have been a career-defining moment quickly unravelled.
Disqualification & Gender Policy Cited
On Tuesday, organisers Strongman Corporation announced that Booker had been disqualified for allegedly violating their women’s competition policy.
“We are clear: competitors can only compete in the category for the biological sex recorded at birth,” the statement read.
“Had we been aware, or had this been declared at any point before or during the competition, this athlete would not have been permitted to compete in the Women’s Open category.”
According to the organisation, the disqualification stemmed from a policy requiring female competitors to have a birth certificate indicating they were assigned female at birth. However, this policy does not appear to be publicly available on the organisation’s website as of publication, and its timing has raised serious questions.
What Triggered the Investigation?
The abrupt nature of the ruling has led to speculation about what prompted the decision. Strongman Corporation referenced an “investigation,” but has provided no details on how it began, what evidence was reviewed, or whether Booker was given a chance to respond or appeal.
Booker had entered the competition without any public disclosure of her gender identity. She competed in line with previous events she entered earlier this year — including a first-place finish at a regional meet in Washington State in June, and a second-place finish at North America’s Strongest Woman in Quebec in July — without issue.
Even conservative media, often quick to target trans athletes, have referred to her only as an “alleged transgender athlete,” indicating a lack of confirmed information.
Policy Change or Post-Event Reaction?
The timing of the announcement — coming after Booker’s victory and after podium celebrations — suggests the policy may have been applied reactively, not proactively.
Previously published information from Strongman Corporation aligned with 2023 International Olympic Committee (IOC) guidelines, which allow trans women to compete in women’s categories if they meet certain criteria, such as maintaining testosterone levels below a specific threshold.
This discrepancy only adds to the confusion. There is no prior record of a formal policy change restricting competition by gender assigned at birth.
A Troubling Pattern?
This isn’t the first controversy involving trans athletes in strength sports. In 2024, Audrey Yun, a trans athlete from British Columbia, was banned by Strongman Canada after raising concerns about transphobic treatment from fellow athletes and event officials.
“They have smiles and niceties in person, but it hurt knowing they’re holding these beliefs inside,” Yun recalled.
“I didn’t want to be an activist or an advocate. I just wanted to train and compete in a sport that told me I was welcome.”
Yun has since shifted to powerlifting under a more inclusive federation.
Now, Booker may be facing a similar fate — not because of her performance, but because of whispers and reactionary measures amplified by anti-trans outlets.
A Champion Disqualified, A Community Divided
Despite the lack of clarity around the policy and investigation, the Strongman organisers stood by their decision:
“We are disappointed on behalf of all those who fairly and legitimately took part that the attention has been taken away from their efforts which deserve celebration. We stand with them and stand with fairness.”
But for many observers, that statement feels hollow.
The real question may no longer be whether Jammie Booker is trans or cisgender — but whether she received fair treatment at all.
With the policy still unclear, the timing suspect, and the silence from organisers on key details, more questions than answers remain.
