Protest Amplifies Calls for Fairness In Women’s Sports
On Sunday, at the University of Maryland, Stephanie Turner, a female fencer representing the Fencing Academy of Philadelphia, made headlines when she took a stand for her beliefs by taking a knee and refusing to compete against her opponent, Redmond Sullivan, a transgender male athlete who identifies as female. Turner’s decision led to her immediate disqualification and expulsion from the tournament, sparking widespread fury online over the continued abuse of women’s sports by transgender men in women’s sports.
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The Incident
Turner, aged 31, had completed four bouts in the Division 1A Women’s Foil event before facing Sullivan. The night before the match, she discovered she would be competing against Sullivan, whom she realized is a biological male who played for the men’s team as late as last year. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Turner explained her decision: “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.’” She added, “I knew what I had to do because USA Fencing had not been listening to women’s objections.”
As the bout began, Turner removed her mask, dropped to one knee, and addressed the referee, stating, “I’m sorry, I cannot do this. I am a woman, and this is a man, and this is a women’s tournament. And I will not fence this individual.” Sullivan, initially confused, approached Turner to ask if she was okay. Turner reiterated her stance, expressing respect but refusing to compete. Moments later, referees issued her a black card—the most severe penalty in fencing—resulting in her disqualification and removal from the event.
USA Fencing’s transgender policy, enacted in 2023, allows athletes to compete in the gender category consistent with their identity. For transgender women, the policy requires at least one year of testosterone suppression treatment before they can participate in women’s events, a requirement Sullivan had met.
USA Fencing’s Response
USA Fencing quickly defended its decision to disqualify Turner, emphasizing that her expulsion was not a punishment for her personal beliefs but a consequence of violating competition rules. In a statement to multiple outlets, including Newsweek and Fox News Digital, the organization clarified: “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.”
The International Fencing Federation (FIE) Technical Rules, specifically Article t.113, state that a fencer may not refuse to compete against another properly entered participant for any reason. Violation of this rule results in disqualification. USA Fencing noted, “We remain committed to inclusivity within our sport while also upholding every requirement dictated by our governing body.”
Reactions and Broader Implications
Turner’s protest and subsequent disqualification ignited a firestorm online. The Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS) posted a video of the incident online, calling it a “historic protest” and garnering over a million views. Supporters praised Turner’s stand, with some labeling her a “heroine” for challenging what they see as an unfair advantage for transgender women in women’s sports. Tennis legend Martina Navratilova, a vocal critic of transgender participation in female sports, expressed outrage on X: “This is what happens when female athletes protest! Anyone here still thinks this is fair??? I am fuming… and shame on @USAFencing.”
Turner herself told Fox News Digital that she had avoided events with transgender competitors in the past but felt compelled to act this time: “If this person shows up to my event and is on my script, then I would take a knee, and that would be God’s will.”
USA Fencing acknowledged the debate around fairness in women’s sports, stating, “We understand that the conversation on equity and inclusion pertaining to transgender participation in sport is evolving,” and pledged to adapt its policies as new evidence emerges.
NCAA Policy Revised Earlier in 2025
Following Donald Trump’s inauguration in 2025, executive orders were signed to limit federal recognition to two genders and prohibit transgender participation in women’s sports under Title IX. The NCAA recently amended its policies to limit women’s sports to athletes assigned female at birth, though USA Fencing, as a national governing body under the FIE, operates independently of NCAA rules for this event.
Turner’s actions have amplified calls for reform, with some advocating a boycott of competitions allowing transgender women to compete. Former NCAA fencer Juliana Peceli wrote on X, “Kudos to the women who refuse to accept this injustice.” Meanwhile, Sullivan’s participation highlights the personal stakes for transgender athletes navigating these contentious policies.
Stephanie Turner’s decision to take a knee has thrust USA Fencing into the spotlight, in light of Trump’s recent Executive Order. Her disqualification, rooted in a technical rule rather than her protest—underscores the framework governing competitive fencing, even as public sentiment strongly favors no athletes in women’s sports to the tune of 80%+.
