There’s a new row in US athletics after female fencer Stephanie Turner was disqualified at a competition for refusing to face a transgender athlete. The move happened on March 30 at the Cherry Blossom D1A/Veteran Regional Open Circuit held at the University of Maryland.
Turner was to meet Redmond Sullivan, a trans athlete, in her scheduled match. Nevertheless, rather than begin the bout, she dropped to her knee in protest and would not fence. Due to this, referees gave her a black card, which sent her out of the tournament.
Turner subsequently clarified her decision, explaining that she wanted to ensure that her protest was seen.
“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 said to Fox News Digital. “I knew what I had to do because USA Fencing had not been listening to women’s objections regarding [its gender eligibility policy]”
Turner recounted her exchange with Sullivan at the time of her protest, “Redmond believed I was going to fence. So when I took the knee, I caught the eye of the ref and said, ‘I apologize, I can’t do this. I am a female, and he is a male, and it’s a women’s tournament. And I will not fence this man.'”
She also said Sullivan, at first thought, she might be hurt and came over to her in concern.
“Redmond didn’t hear me, and he comes up to me, and he thinks that I may be hurt, or he doesn’t understand what’s happening. He asks, ‘Are you OK?’ And I said, ‘I’m sorry. I have much love and respect for you, but I will not fence you.’”
USA Fencing Responds to the Disqualification
A USA Fencing spokesperson explained that Turner did not get disqualified for protesting the presence of a transgender athlete on the field but for not going on to the court to face an assigned match.
“In the case of Stephanie Turner, her disqualification was not related to any personal statement but was merely the direct result of her decision to decline to fence an eligible opponent, which the FIE rules clearly prohibit,” explained the spokesperson in an interview with Fox News.
USA Fencing referred to Article t.113 of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) Technical Rules, which provides that a fencer may not refuse to fence a duly entered opponent for any reason.
“According to the FIE (International Fencing Federation) Technical Rules, specifically Article t.113, a fencer is not permitted to refuse to fence another properly entered fencer for any reason. Under these rules, such a refusal results in disqualification and the corresponding sanctions. This policy exists to maintain fair competition standards and preserve the sport’s integrity,” the statement continued.
Martina Navratilova Criticizes USA Fencing
Tennis great Martina Navratilova, who has been critical of transgender athletes competing in women’s sports in the past, vocally condemned USA Fencing for penalizing Turner.
“This is what happens when female athletes protest! Anyone here still thinks this is fair??? I am fuming… and shame on @USAFencing, shame on you for doing this. How dare you throw women under the gender bullshit bus!!!”
Redmond Sullivan’s Competitive History
Sullivan, the transgender participant at the center of the scandal, was formerly fenced in the men’s division before joining the women’s fencing team at Wagner College in 2024. In late 2024, Sullivan made the news after she placed first in the Junior Women’s Foil at the Connecticut Division Junior Olympic Qualifiers, besting five other fencers.
This new controversy has once again fueled arguments over transgender involvement in women’s athletics, with supporters and opponents debating the issue. As more and more governing bodies come under criticism, the debate over fairness and inclusion in competitive sports continues to build.