The World's Strongest Woman competition experienced significant controversy after the disqualification of the original winner, a transgender woman, due to rules requiring athletes to compete in categories matching their biological sex at birth. The American athlete, Jammie Booker from Philadelphia, was declared ineligible after organizers discovered she was born male. Despite winning the event in Arlington, Texas, Booker was stripped of her title days later, with organizers stating that fairness and adherence to the competition's rules necessitated the disqualification. The incident caused a stir among competitors and the public, with UK lifter Andrea Thompson, who finished second, storming off the podium and being publicly recognized as the new winner. Thompson, a seasoned competitor and previous champion, expressed frustration over the scandal overshadowing her achievement and emphasized the importance of maintaining women’s sports divisions based on biological sex. The organizers reaffirmed their commitment to fairness, stating that athletes must compete in categories aligned with their biological sex recorded at birth, and that inclusivity does not extend to competition fairness. The controversy highlights ongoing debates about transgender participation in women’s sports, with some athletes and officials advocating for strict adherence to biological distinctions to preserve fairness in female competitions.