Female fencer takes knee instead of fighting male opponent

A female fencer recently took her safety into her own hands instead of competing against a male transgender-identifying athlete.

Stephanie Turner was disqualified from a fencing tournament in Maryland last weekend after she took a knee and refused to compete against Redmond Sullivan, a biological male who previously competed against men.

Turner’s action is part of a new trend of women emboldened to stand up for fairness in girls’ and women’s sports.

“I want to thank God for trusting me with this mission to fight for female-exclusive sports and putting me in a place to effectively protest,” Turner told the Daily Wire.  

“I also want to add that I am grateful to the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS) for their encouragement and support,” she added. “They have helped me and so many other women who have been put in this unfair and confusing situation.” 

Turner received a black card and was kicked out of the tournament for her refusal to compete against Sullivan, who was permitted to compete under USA Fencing’s pro-transgender policies. 

Turner was unaware Sullivan would be participating, and said she wouldn’t have signed up if she had known.  

“From there, I said, ‘Okay, let’s do it. I’m going to take the knee,’” Turner told Fox News. “I knew what I had to do because USA Fencing had not been listening to women’s objections regarding [its gender eligibility policy].” 

When Turner initially took a knee, the male athlete confronted her and told her he had support from USA Fencing. 

“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,’” Turner recounted. 

USA Fencing reiterated its decision to disqualify Turner in a statement.  

“In the case of Stephanie Turner, 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 in a statement. “USA Fencing is obligated to follow the letter of those rules and ensure that participants respect the standards set at the international level.” 

The organization currently allows competitors in the women’s division according to gender identity rather than anatomical sex. 

“We understand that the conversation on equity and inclusion pertaining to transgender participation in sport is evolving,” USA Fencing said in another statement. “USA Fencing will always err on the side of inclusion, and we’re committed to amending the policy as more relevant evidence-based research emerges, or as policy changes take effect in the wider Olympic & Paralympic movement.” 

However, at least one prominent female athlete spoke out against this policy. 

Retired women’s tennis star Martina Navratilova ripped USA Fencing for letting this happen. 

“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 bullsh*t bus!!!” Navratilova said on X. 

Author J.K. Rowling also posted, “This is what a heroine looks like” above a video of Turner taking the knee.