In a bold protest, 31-year-old American fencer Stephanie Turner refused to compete against a transgender athlete during a recent women’s fencing event in Maryland, USA.
According to international media reports, Turner knelt down before the bout and publicly declared that she would not participate, stating, “This is a women’s event, and I cannot compete against a male athlete.” Her protest was aimed at the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s competitions.
Turner also harshly criticized the USA Fencing Association for allowing transgender participation in female-only categories, claiming it undermines fairness in women’s sports.
As a result of her refusal to compete, the event organizers disqualified Turner from the tournament.
The match she declined to participate in was against Redmond Sullivan, a transgender fencer representing Wagner College. Sullivan has reportedly won 18 of her 45 matches and placed 24th out of 39 competitors in the Maryland event.
Stephanie Turner is a seasoned athlete with experience in over 200 fencing matches, including national championships.
The incident has sparked fresh debate across the U.S. on the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports, highlighting the ongoing tensions between inclusivity and competitive equity.
