A transgender athlete has been disqualified from a major strength competition after winning the top title.
Jammie Booker was crowned World’s Strongest Woman at the Official Strongman Games in Texas on Sunday.
She beat British lifter and former champion Andrea Thompson by just one point.
However, organisers later said Booker had not informed them that she was “biologically male.”
In a statement, they said: “It appears that an athlete who is biologically male and who now identifies as female competed in the Women’s Open category.”
They added that Booker has been “disqualified,” and all points and placements will now be changed.
Organisers said they “were unaware” of her gender status before or during the competition.
Booker had previously appeared in a YouTube video, reportedly from her account, eight years ago.
In that video, she said: “I’m a 21-year-old trans woman with a history of abuse struggling to stay true to herself.”
Fellow competitors quickly claimed the result was unfair.
Rebecca Roberts, a three-time World’s Strongest Woman champion, shared her views on social media.
She wrote: “I hold no hate toward transgender people. Everyone deserves dignity, respect, and the freedom to live their truth.
“But I cannot stay silent about something that threatens the fairness and future of women’s strength sports. Transgender women, people born male, should not be competing in the women’s category.”
Organisers later confirmed that their rules only allow athletes to compete based on their sex at birth. They said they have been unable to contact Booker since the disqualification.
British strongwoman Andrea Thompson, who finished second, reshared a post from her coach Laurence Shahlaei.
He wrote: “A huge congratulations to my client but more importantly, my very good friend @andreathompson_strongwoman… you were still the strongest woman on the day.”
Suspicion grew after the competition due to Booker’s physical size.
Canadian strongman Mitchell Hooper claimed Booker was noticeably larger than other competitors.
He said: “She was probably three to four inches taller and probably 80lbs heavier than her closest competitor. I would estimate her at about 6ft 5in and 400lbs.”
Booker had reportedly competed in only two events before entering the world championship.
The issue unfolds as debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports continues across the United States.
Earlier this year, Donald Trump signed an executive order banning transgender women from competing in women’s sports categories.
LGBTQ and human rights groups have called the move discriminatory.
Republican lawmakers argue it is needed to protect fairness in women’s sports.
Texas authorities have also investigated high schools over alleged transgender participation in girls’ competitions.
Booker has not yet publicly responded to the disqualification.
Featured image credit: Jammie Brooker/Instagram
