Female fencer who was given severe punishment for refusing to partake with transgender opponent speaks out
A female athlete eliminated from a fencing event after declining to compete against a transgender rival states she acted for her "personal safety" hoping to draw attention to concerns within regulatory organizations.
Fencing Academy of Philadelphia member Stephanie Turner has ignited widespread controversy online after forfeiting a match in Maryland. The 31-year-old was scheduled to compete against 20-year-old Redmond Sullivan at the Cherry Blossom Open in Maryland on March 30. However, a referee issued Turner a black card after she refused to fight Redmond, a transgender competitor representing the University of Maryland, according to ABC News.
The Academy of Fencing Masters explains that a black card signifies the "complete and negative termination of competition for a fencer" who has violated the code of honor. This penalty is regarded as one of the most serious in the sport.
When declining to face Sullivan in the USA Fencing-approved regional event, Turner removed her protective mask and knelt on the piste. She then told her opponent they would not be competing against each other. The fencer's actions at the Maryland tournament - which was not an NCAA competition - resulted in her disqualification following four successful matches with different opponents.
Turner has now addressed the incident, claiming she didn't want to "get hurt" by Sullivan. "I did this for my own physical safety, because this is a combat sport - and, in competition setting, men fence a lot harder than women and I don't want to get hurt," Turner told the New York Post.
The athlete explained she previously avoided registering for events with transgender participants. Now she enters these competitions, stating it's too "expensive" to cancel or skip certain tournaments.
"Ultimately I'd never be able to fence if I was just avoiding every tournament where there was a transgender person," she stated.
Describing her protest, Turner claims she informed Sullivan she would not compete against her. "I'm sorry, but I will not fence you. You're a man, and I'm a woman, and this is a women's tournament. I have much love and respect for you, but I will not fence you," she reportedly told her opponent.
Turner, who has fenced for 12 years, claims Sullivan appeared "upset" by her actions. "Redmond says to 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,' and I said, 'I know'," she told Fox News Digital.
Following her protest, a referee promptly notified Turner of her tournament elimination. After receiving the black card, officials requested she sign papers confirming her withdrawal. Turner considers it "unjust" that the United States Fencing Administration (USFA) permits transgender athletes to compete in women's categories.
In their response to UNILAD, a USA Fencing representative clarified that Turner faced penalties not for her protest itself, but specifically for declining to compete against an "eligible competitor."
"The FIE (International Fencing Federation) Technical Rules, particularly Article t.113, prohibit fencers from refusing to face properly registered opponents for any reason," the representative explained. "Under these guidelines, such refusal leads to disqualification and related penalties. This rule exists to uphold fair competition standards and protect the sport's integrity."
USA Fencing has since acknowledged they "recognize" that discussions about fairness and inclusion regarding transgender participation in sports "continue to develop."
They stated: "We will prioritize inclusion, and we pledge to modify the policy as more relevant evidence-based research becomes available, or as policy changes occur throughout the Olympic & Paralympic movement.
"We value perspectives from all sides and invite our members to continue sharing them with us as this matter progresses.
"The fencing community must engage in this conversation, but we expect these discussions to remain respectful, whether during our tournaments or in online forums. Progress comes through respectful dialogue grounded in evidence."
USA Fencing further explained that their current transgender and non-binary athlete policy aims to increase access to fencing while creating an inclusive, safe environment.
"The policy builds on the principle that everyone should have opportunities to participate in sports and was developed based on research available at the time," a spokesperson added.
