Female fencer disqualified for standing up to transgender opponent
In this DML Report…
Stephanie Turner, a female fencer from the Fencing Academy of Philadelphia, was disqualified from the Cherry Blossom Open at the University of Maryland after refusing to compete against transgender fencer Redmond Sullivan of Iconic Fencing Club. Turner, who had completed four bouts earlier, took a knee and removed her mask before the match, citing her objection to USA Fencing’s transgender policy, which allows athletes transitioning from male to female to compete in women’s events after a year of testosterone suppression. Under International Fencing Federation (FIE) rules, refusing to fence an eligible opponent results in a black card and disqualification, which USA Fencing enforced, stressing it was not about her protest but her violation of competition rules.
The incident sparked backlash from figures like Martina Navratilova, who criticized USA Fencing, arguing it unfairly sidelines women by upholding its 2023 transgender policy—Sullivan, from Wagner College, placed 24th out of 39 fencers in the event. Turner told Fox News that Sullivan warned her of the disqualification risk, referencing a supportive board member and the policy recognizing Sullivan as a woman; Turner knowingly accepted the consequence. USA Fencing defended its stance to Newsweek, emphasizing inclusivity and adherence to FIE standards, noting Sullivan met eligibility criteria, while Turner’s action breached Article t.113 of the technical rules.
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Public reaction split sharply, with social media users decrying the decision as unfair to female athletes—one X post claimed it “strips women from reaching their dreams”—while others supported inclusivity in sports. Turner, escorted to the bout committee post-incident, signed a document acknowledging her black card after explaining her stance, a move she’d prepared for by avoiding past events with transgender competitors like the 2023 Summer Nationals. Sullivan, who switched from Wagner’s men’s to women’s team last year, had warned Turner of the outcome, highlighting the policy’s backing, as the debate over transgender participation in women’s sports intensifies under current rules.