USA Fencing has defended a transgender athlete after a female competitor refused to face them and took a knee in protest during a tournament.
The incident occurred last weekend at the Cherry Blossom tournament at the University of Maryland, where Stephanie Turner declined to compete against transgender athlete Redmond Sullivan in the Division 1A Women's Foil event.
Turner's protest has sparked controversy in the fencing community.
She was disqualified for her protest and shown a black card, which is typically reserved for bad behaviour or unsporting conduct.
USA Fencing has defended a transgender athlete after a female competitor refused to face them and took a knee in protest during a tournament
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Turner had already completed four matches in the tournament before facing Sullivan.
"I saw that I was going to be in a pool with Redmond, and from there I said, 'OK, let's do it. I'm going to take the knee'," Turner explained after the incident.
She elaborated on her decision, saying: "I knew what I had to do because USA Fencing had not been listening to women's objections."
When she took the knee, she told the referee: "I'm sorry, I cannot do this. I am a woman, and this is a man, and this is a women's tournament."
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Female fencer takes knee instead of competing against biological male
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) April 2, 2025
USA Fencing disqualifies & expels her from the college tournament, even though her male opponent played for the men’s team last year before switching to women’s
How is this legal?!pic.twitter.com/knTIze5Gwa
Sullivan approached Turner, apparently concerned, asking if she was OK.
Turner responded: "I'm sorry. I have much love and respect for you, but I will not fence you."
Sullivan had previously competed in the men's division before transferring to Wagner College's women's team.
The incident gained significant attention after footage of Turner's protest went viral, prompting USA Fencing to issue a statement on Wednesday in support of Sullivan.
The organisation defended its transgender and non-binary athlete policy, which was enacted in 2023.
USA Fencing's statement emphasised that their policy "was designed to expand access to the sport of fencing and create inclusive, safe spaces".
The organisation added: "The policy is based on the principle that everyone should have the ability to participate in sports and was based upon the research available of the day."
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On the evolving conversation on transgender participation in sport, they continued: "USA Fencing will always err on the side of inclusion."
The organisation explained that Turner's disqualification was not due to her personal statement but "was merely the direct result of her decision to decline to fence an eligible opponent, which the FIE rules clearly prohibit".
USA Fencing stated they are "obligated to follow the letter of those rules and ensure that participants respect the standards set at the international level".
Stephanie Turner took the knee in protest after refusing to face her transgender opponent
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They added they remain "committed to inclusivity within our sport while also upholding every requirement dictated by our governing body".
Former tennis star Martina Navratilova expressed outrage at USA Fencing's handling of the incident on social media.
"This is what happens when female athletes protest! Anyone here still thinks this is fair??? I am fuming," she wrote.
