A fencer After being disqualified for taking a knee and declining to compete against a transgender opponent, Stephanie Turner has spoken out.
The event happened on March 30 at a tournament in Maryland that was sanctioned by USA Fencing. Since then, X (previously Twitter) has seen over 7 million views of the contentious moment’s footage.
Turner, before her fight with fencer Redmond Sullivan, took off her mask and protested by kneeling. She was thus given a black card by the referee, which eliminated her from the competition.
Key Points
Stephanie Turner maintained her resolve to stand her ground and decline to compete in fencing against transgender athlete Redmond Sullivan.
Turner
She misgendered Sullivan and claimed to be aware that her conduct would disqualify her in a recent interview.
Stephanie said she “had no choice” but to decline the fight in an interview with Fox News.
Without using her preferred pronouns, she alluded to Sullivan as “there’s nothing for me, and there’s everything for him.”
Because, as a woman, I am powerless in my competitive environment. Compared to guys, I am less athletic since I am a woman.
When she realised who her opponent would be the night before, the fencer revealed that she decided to take a knee.
“I apologise, but I am unable to do this,” I said, turning to face the referee as I took the knee. There is a male competitor in this women’s event, and I am a female. Additionally, I won’t fence this person.
Sullivan didn’t hear what she told the referee, she said, and he assumed she had taken a knee because she was hurt.
He is unable to comprehend what is taking place. He enquires, “Are you okay?” And “I apologise,” I said. Although I greatly admire and adore you, I will not put up a fight with you.
I replied, “I know,” when Redmond told me, “Well, you know, there is a member on the board of directors here who supports me, and there is a policy that acknowledges me as a woman, so I am allowed to fence, and you will get black carded.”
Turner protested the selection of Sullivan, who USA Fencing claimed was an eligible opponent, by taking a knee.
She clarified that after receiving a copy of the association’s transgender policy and being asked to sign a form confirming her exclusion, she was led off.
Iconic Fencing Club, Sullivan’s team, told The Daily Express US that she had complied with all regulations and guidelines issued by USA Fencing and the FIE, the global fencing regulating body.
According to the team, Turner’s actions “have no place” in a sport that is based on “sportsmanship and inclusion,” and she has every right to compete in the events for which she is eligible and has long ago fulfilled the requirements to do so.
Due to the incident, Sullivan was ruled out of the match, according to USA Fencing. She was ejected, according to the organization’s statement, for not fencing an opponent, regardless of that opponent’s gender identity.
Her behaviour is against the International Fencing Federation’s regulations, which forbid fencers from declining to compete against one another.
In the statement, it is said that “USA Fencing is responsible for ensuring that all athletes, regardless of their personal positions, compete under the same rules established by our international federation.”
Article t.113 of the FIE (International Fencing Federation) Technical Rules states that a fencer cannot, for any reason, refuse to fence another fencer who has entered the property.
According to these regulations, a rejection of this kind leads to disqualification and the associated penalties. The purpose of this policy is to uphold fair competition standards and protect the integrity of the sport.
Given that cis women compete against trans women at an athletic disadvantage, Turner claimed she “had no choice” but to decline the match.
USA Fencing said that Sullivan’s disqualification was due to her “decision to decline to fence an eligible opponent,” and disputed that it was “related to any personal statement.”
In 2023, a policy for transgender and non-binary athletes was implemented by the organisation.
The rule says that after a year of testosterone suppression medication, athletes who have changed their gender can compete in USA Fencing-sanctioned events.
Those who fulfil these conditions have to show proof of hormone therapy compliance before they can compete.
The policy, according to USA Fencing, was created “to expand access to the sport of fencing and create inclusive, safe spaces.” It is “based upon the research available at the time and was based on the principle that everyone should have the ability to participate in sports.”
She was eliminated for breaking the International Fencing Federation’s regulations, which forbid fencers from declining to compete against one another 🤺🚨. The female fencer who takes a knee against her male opponent in a historic protest faces immediate disqualification.
At the @USAFencing event at the University of…, Redmond Sullivan’s female opponent was kicked out after being given a black card for refusing to compete against a man. IloSnrb2Iu via pic.twitter.com
— ICONS April 2, 2025 (@icons_women)
We appreciate all points of view and encourage our members to keep sharing them with us as the situation develops,” the group told Fox News.
The fencing community should have this discussion, but whether it takes place at our contests or online, we expect it to be handled politely.
“Courteous, evidence-based discussion is the way to go.”
“This is a men’s tournament, and I am a woman,” she said to the referee prior to the fight. Additionally, I won’t fence this person.
When Martina Navratilova, a tennis champion and LGBT rights activist, showed support for Turner on X, the moment gathered even more momentum.
“When female athletes protest, this is what happens!” she wrote. Does anyone still believe that this is fair? I am furious. and @USAFencing, you should feel ashamed for this. How dare you ignore women because of gender stereotypes!
Turner received social media support from Martina Navratilova, a tennis player and lesbian rights activist.
Transgender athletes should only be permitted to participate on teams that correspond to the sex assigned to them at birth, according to 69% of Americans surveyed by Gallup in 2023.
Because different sports leagues have varying policies regarding the admission of trans players, the matter is still up for debate across the country.
Proponents of regulating or outlawing trans athletes contend that doing so is essential to safeguarding the safety of cisgender athletes. Opponents contend that these actions, on the other hand, cause a marginalised minority to be excluded and stigmatised.
There was ongoing discussion about whether Turner was correct to decline to compete against Sullivan.
