U.S. fencer refuses bout with transgender opponent
Stephanie Turner had previously avoided tournaments that included transgender participants. But this time, she chose to act according to her conscience.
American athlete Stephanie Turner was disqualified from the Cherry Blossom Open fencing tournament in Maryland after refusing to compete against a transgender male who was participating in the women’s category under a female name, foxnews.com reports.
Turner explained her decision as stemming from her personal Christian stance on transgender participation in sports. Before the competition, she noticed the name of a transgender athlete on the roster and made a conscious decision to withdraw if matched against him.
“You know what, I’m just going to give it to God. 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,” Turner said.
During the event, Turner stepped onto the piste, but upon seeing her opponent, removed her mask, knelt down, and declined the match. Turning to the referee, she said: “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.”
The referees issued Turner a “black card” – the most severe penalty, leading to expulsion from the tournament or event for serious rule infractions or “unsportsmanlike behavior.”
Her opponent, transgender fencer Redmond Sullivan, stated that he had official authorization to compete in the women's category and had warned Turner of the potential consequences of her refusal.
According to Turner, she was later presented with a copy of USA Fencing’s transgender participation policy and was asked to sign a document acknowledging her rule violation. She signed it under protest and was then escorted out of the venue.
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.
Turner noted that she had previously avoided tournaments where transgender athletes were listed, but this time decided to act according to her conscience, fully aware of the possible repercussions:
“This might ruin my life. Training and competition will be difficult. But I had to do what was right.”
She also shared that she had long supported the U.S. Democratic Party but changed her views due to its stance on transgender inclusion in women’s sports. She now describes herself as a “new Republican” and supports Donald Trump’s initiative to cut funding to states that allow men to compete in women’s events.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that Trump had ordered transgender offenders to be sent to male prisons.
