USA - Fencing athlete Stephanie Turner was disqualified from the Cherry Blossom Open fencing tournament in Maryland after refusing to fight a transgender opponent.
Stephanie Turner took a knee instead of competing against transgender athlete Redmond Sullivan last weekend. Viral video shows Turner tearing off her mask and kneeling before her opponent. "I'm sorry, I can't do this. I'm a woman, this is a man, and this is a women's tournament. I'm not going to spar with this person," Turner told Fox News.
The two athletes exchanged a few words before the referee gave Turner a black card, signaling unsportsmanlike conduct. "Redmond didn't hear me, he came up to me and asked if I was okay. I said I'm sorry, I have a lot of love and respect for him, but I'm not going to spar with him," Turner said.
"Redmond told me that there was a member of the board of directors who supported him, and there was a policy that recognized him as a woman, so he was allowed to compete, and I would be given a black card. I said I knew," Turner said.
The Independent Council for Women's Sports shared the video on X, sparking a backlash over Turner's disqualification. Tennis legend Martina Navratilova wrote: "This is what happens when women protest. Shame on the USA Fencing Federation." Former fencer Juliana Peceli wrote on X: "As a former fencer, I was forced to compete against men who identified as women. Women who have dedicated their lives to the sport, only for men to take our places, our titles, and our futures."
The USA Fencing Federation has stated that Turner’s disqualification was not related to any personal statement but was a direct result of her refusal to fight an eligible opponent. The federation is required to follow the rules and ensure participants respect international standards.
The current policy for transgender and non-binary athletes will be updated in 2023. This policy is designed to expand access to fencing and create safe, inclusive spaces, based on the principle that everyone has the right to participate in sport. The federation respects the views of all parties and encourages members to continue to share as the issue develops.