“Just A Bigot”? Female Fencer Speaks Out After Refusing to Compete Against Trans Athlete
April 5, 2025
Fencer Stephanie Turner is breaking her silence after being disqualified for taking a knee and refusing to face a transgender opponent during a USA Fencing-sanctioned tournament.
The controversial moment unfolded on March 30 in Maryland and quickly went viral, with footage of Turner’s protest garnering over 7 million views on X (formerly Twitter).
Ahead of her scheduled match against Redmond Sullivan, Turner removed her mask and took a knee, signaling her protest. This act led the referee to issue a black card, disqualifying her from the event.
Key Points:
- Stephanie Turner stood firm in her decision to take a knee, citing personal beliefs as her reason for refusing to compete against Sullivan.
- Her disqualification followed USA Fencing rules, which prohibit fencers from declining to compete.
- In a recent interview, Turner misgendered Sullivan and admitted she knew her actions would result in disqualification.
- Speaking to Fox News, Turner expressed that she “had no choice” but to take a stand.
Turner’s disqualification has sparked intense debate and brought attention to the ongoing conversation about transgender athletes in competitive sports.
“There’s nothing for me, and everything for him,” Turner stated, referring to Sullivan without using her preferred pronouns.
“As a woman, I have no choice in where I compete. I am a woman, and I face an athletic disadvantage when competing against men.”
Turner explained that the decision to protest by taking a knee came the night before, when she learned who her opponent would be.
“When I knelt, I looked at the referee and said, ‘I’m sorry, I can’t do this. I am a woman, and this is a man. This is a women’s tournament, and I will not compete against this individual.’”
Turner said Sullivan didn’t fully understand her reason for kneeling and initially assumed she had done so due to injury.
“He didn’t understand what was going on. He asked, ‘Are you OK?’ and I replied, ‘I’m sorry. I have a lot of love and respect for you, but I will not fence you.’”
According to Turner, Sullivan responded by mentioning that a board member supported him and that there was a policy recognizing him as a woman, which allowed him to compete. He added, “You will get black-carded,” to which Turner acknowledged, “I know.”
Turner’s protest was against the inclusion of Sullivan as an eligible opponent, a decision that USA Fencing stood by, affirming that he was allowed to compete.
Turner explained that after the incident, she was handed a copy of the association’s transgender policy, asked to sign a document acknowledging her disqualification, and then escorted from the venue.
Sullivan’s team, Iconic Fencing Club, responded to the controversy in a statement to The Daily Express US, asserting that Sullivan had adhered to all the rules and guidelines set by both the FIE (International Fencing Federation) and USA Fencing.
“She has every right to compete in events she qualifies for and has long met the criteria to do so,” the team stated. They also emphasized that Turner’s actions “have no place” in a sport that is built on “sportsmanship and inclusion.”
USA Fencing confirmed that Turner was disqualified for refusing to compete against her opponent, Sullivan, due to the incident. In a statement, the organization emphasized that her actions violated the rules of the International Fencing Federation (FIE), which prohibit fencers from refusing to compete against another properly entered opponent, regardless of their gender identity.
“USA Fencing’s responsibility is to ensure that all athletes, regardless of their personal positions, compete under the same rules established by our international federation,” the statement read.
The organization pointed to FIE Technical Rule t.113, which explicitly states that fencers are not allowed to refuse a match against any qualified competitor. The statement continued, “Such a refusal results in disqualification and corresponding sanctions. This policy is in place to maintain fair competition standards and preserve the integrity of the sport.”
Turner defended her actions, stating that she “had no choice” but to refuse the match, citing the athletic disadvantage that cis women face when competing against trans women. She emphasized that, in her view, the physical differences gave her opponent an unfair advantage, leading her to make the difficult decision to protest.
USA Fencing denied that Sullivan’s disqualification was “related to any personal statement,” clarifying that it resulted solely from Turner’s “decision to decline to fence an eligible opponent.”
The organization implemented a policy for transgender and non-binary athletes in 2023, which allows athletes who have transitioned from male to female to compete in USA Fencing-sanctioned events after completing a year of testosterone suppression treatment.
Under this policy, athletes must provide proof of compliance with hormone therapy before competing, ensuring that all competitors meet the necessary medical requirements for fair participation.
USA Fencing explained that the policy was designed “to expand access to the sport of fencing and create inclusive, safe spaces,” adding that it is “based on the principle that everyone should have the ability to participate in sports.” The policy, they noted, was informed by the research available at the time.
Turner was disqualified for violating International Fencing Federation rules, which strictly prohibit fencers from refusing to compete against another eligible opponent.
The organization told Fox News: “We respect the viewpoints on all sides and encourage our members to continue sharing them with us as the matter evolves.
“It’s important for the fencing community to engage in this dialogue, but we expect this conversation to be conducted respectfully, whether at our tournaments or in online spaces.
“The way to progress is by respectful discussion based on evidence.”
Before the bout, Turner told the referee: “I am a woman, and this is a man, and this is a women’s tournament. And I will not fence this individual.”
The moment gained even more attention when tennis legend and gay rights advocate Martina Navratilova voiced her support for Turner on X.
She wrote: “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 bulls*** bus!!!”
Martina Navratilova, tennis player and advocate for gay rights, showed her support for Turner on social media.
A Gallup poll from 2023 revealed that 69% of Americans believe transgender athletes should only be allowed to compete on teams that match their sex assigned at birth.
The issue remains a heated debate nationwide, as various sports leagues adopt differing policies regarding the inclusion of trans athletes.
Supporters of restricting or banning trans athletes argue that such measures are necessary to protect the safety and fairness of cisgender athletes. On the other hand, opponents contend that these policies contribute to the exclusion and stigmatization of a marginalized group.
As the conversation continues, people are still debating whether Turner was justified in refusing to compete against Sullivan.