Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office has announced an investigation into a recent weightlifting competition where a biological male competed against a female athlete.
In this event, trans athlete Jamie Booker claimed victory at the 2025 World’s Strongest Women’s Championship in Arlington, Texas, just last weekend. However, the second-place competitor, Andrea Thompson, left the podium in protest. Following this, the official strongman organization stated that Booker would be disqualified and that Thompson would take first place instead.
Paxton’s office expressed a firm stance, asserting that it will “not allow the radical left to sacrifice the integrity of women’s sports” due to a “paranoid transgender agenda.” They indicated that the Office of the Attorney General is dedicated to protecting women’s sports in both Texas and across the nation.
It’s worth noting that Paxton had previously taken legal action against USA Masters Swimming for permitting trans athletes to participate in an event in San Antonio earlier this year.
A video from Booker’s YouTube channel dating back to 2017 reveals him identifying as “transgender.” According to records, Booker had not engaged in any women’s competitions until June of this year, and it’s unclear if he competed as a male prior to that.
Recently, a clip of Thompson stepping off the podium while saying, “This is bullshit,” went viral. It has drawn significant backlash from activists advocating for women’s sports rights. Kim Jones, co-founder of the Independent Council on Women’s Sports, labeled the incident as a deception directed at the athletes and event organizers.
“Female athletes need transparency, honesty, and basic assurance that the competitor standing next to them is, in fact, a woman,” Jones emphasized. The importance of gender-based eligibility and screening was highlighted to avoid situations like this, which she believes undermine fair competition.
Thompson has now emerged as a key figure in the fight to safeguard women’s sports from male competitors. Her experience at the event has sparked broader discussions about these issues.
Coaches and supporters are praising Thompson’s stance. One coach, Lawrence Schallai, congratulated her on her “win,” though he acknowledged the controversy, stating that while he supports individuals being true to themselves, the integrity of women’s sports must be maintained.
The official strongman organization clarified that it was unaware of Booker’s biological sex at the time of the tournament. They expressed that had this information been disclosed beforehand, Booker wouldn’t have been permitted to compete in the Women’s Open Division. They reiterated a commitment to fairness, emphasizing that athletes must compete in categories based on their biological sex at birth.
The ongoing dialogue surrounding this topic points to significant challenges in ensuring fair competition in women’s sports.
