At the Cherry Blossom Open fencing tournament, University of Maryland on March 30, 2025, Stephanie Turner, a fencer, was disqualified for failing to face a transgender competitor named Redmond Sullivan. Turner, 31, protested by kneeling and removing her mask prior to the match commencing, resulting in her disqualification with an immediate black card, the highest fine in fencing, for violating International Fencing Federation (FIE) rules prohibiting refusal to compete with a properly entered opponent. Incident Details
In the Division 1 Women’s Foil event, after Turner was about to fence Sullivan, she got down on one knee and removed her protective face mask, symbolizing her decline to fence. She explained that she could not fence a biologically male athlete in a female competition. As a result, the referee gave her a black card, resulting in her being disqualified from competing.
USA Fencing’s Response
USA Fencing, the governing organization of the sport that ran the tournament, reported that Turner had been disqualified for refusing to fight an eligible opponent, as required by FIE rules. The organization emphasized its commitment to being inclusive and upholding global norms, further commenting that disqualification was due to rule violations rather than personal attitudes.
Support and Criticism
The incident triggered a wave of responses. Novelist J.K. Rowling and tennis great Martina Navratilova spoke out in Turner’s favor, condemning USA Fencing’s actions and questioning the fairness of women’s sports. On the other hand, USA Fencing stood firm on inclusion, emphasizing its policy that grants transgender and non-binary athletes permission to compete in accordance with their gender identity subject to certain hormone-level conditions.
Broader Implications
This incident has renewed debates on whether transgender sportsmen can play for women’s sports, a question that has dominated national debate and policy making. The delicate balance between being inclusive and fair is still a difficult dilemma among sportsmen.
Stephanie Turner’s demonstration and subsequent removal from the Cherry Blossom Open highlight the persisting controversies about transgender participation in sports. In their efforts to balance these tricky matters, discourse mirrors wider discussions about equality, fairness, and the changing context of athletic competition.
