Fencer explains why she refused to compete against transgender opponent

(NewsNation) – A fencer in Maryland was disqualified from a USA Fencing-sanctioned regional tournament after she refused to compete against a transgender opponent last month.

During the competition March 30 at the University of Maryland, fencer Stephanie Turner took a knee before her match against transgender student Redmond Sullivan. Turner was then given a black card by a referee.

USA Fencing said in a statement that all athletes compete under the same rules established by the International Fencing Federation, regardless of their personal positions. 

In Turner’s case, “her disqualification, which applies to this tournament only, 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," USA Fencing said. 

Speaking to NewsNation on Thursday, Turner said she didn’t take a knee as an “individual attack” against Sullivan. However, Turner said she didn’t agree with Sullivan competing in the same category as her.

When Turner saw Sullivan's name on the participants list, she says she cried.

"I cried so much because I had spent quite a few months training specifically with this in mind," Turner said.

If something like this happened, Turner said, she decided she would “forfeit” the competition. 

“I was always nervous about it, because it creates a scene, and it will obviously result in the black card,” she said. 

Turner told NewsNation she didn’t “want to let people know that I'm OK with this and pretend like nothing's happening.”

NewsNation tried to reach Sullivan for comment. 

Former tennis player Martina Navratilova criticized USA Fencing on X Wednesday, saying she was “fuming” over the incident. 

On Thursday afternoon, USA Fencing released a statement on its current policies, saying the organization is committed to fostering an “inclusive, respectful community for everyone in our sport.”

“While we understand there are a range of perspectives, USA Fencing will continue to engage in respectful, research-based dialogue and review as policy evolves in the Olympic and Paralympic movement as well as domestic law,” USA Fencing said. “Hate speech or targeted hate of any kind is not acceptable — online or in person.”

Turner said she doesn't find USA Fencing's transgender and nonbinary athletes policy to be inclusive.

"This policy is ridiculous, and it's forced me to refuse by taking a knee," Turner said.

Reuters contributed to this report.