Stephanie Turner, a female fencer from Philadelphia, was disqualified after taking a knee in protest during a women’s tournament rather than compete against a transgender athlete, igniting national debate on fairness in female sports.
AT A GLANCE
- Stephanie Turner forfeited a fencing match against transgender athlete Redmond Sullivan at a USA Fencing event.
- Turner received a black card and was disqualified, while Sullivan advanced by forfeit.
- Turner cited concerns about fairness in women’s sports and said she could not in good conscience compete.
- USA Fencing defended its rules, which permit transgender athletes after a year of testosterone suppression.
- Turner, previously a Democrat, now identifies as a conservative over the issue.
Protest at the Piste: A Fencer’s Stand for Women’s Sports
At a recent USA Fencing tournament in Maryland, Stephanie Turner made headlines not for a victory, but for a protest. The longtime member of the Fencing Academy of Philadelphia refused to compete against transgender opponent Redmond Sullivan, choosing instead to take a knee on the strip in what she described as a stand for women’s athletic integrity.
“I am a woman, and this is a man, and this is a women’s tournament,” Turner told the referee, according to Fox News. She was immediately issued a black card—the harshest penalty in fencing—resulting in a disqualification and a “did not finish” (DNF) result in the competition. Sullivan advanced automatically due to Turner’s forfeit.
Watch Turner’s protest moment and post-match comments.
Fallout and Policy Response
USA Fencing responded by citing its adherence to international rules set by the Fédération Internationale d’Escrime (FIE), which prohibits refusal to compete against a properly entered athlete “for any reason.” The organization explained its current gender eligibility policy requires only one year of testosterone suppression treatment for male-to-female athletes to participate in women’s divisions.
In a statement published by Newsweek, USA Fencing said it is “obligated to follow the letter of those rules and ensure that participants respect the standards set at the international level.” The group added it is “committed to inclusivity” and would consider revising its policy as new research or Olympic guidance emerges.
Turner, however, remains unconvinced. She argued that the policy compromises fairness for female competitors, citing biological differences that persist even after hormone therapy. “I knew what I had to do because USA Fencing had not been listening to women’s objections,” she said.
From Democrat to Conservative
Turner’s protest has not only affected her athletic career—it has shifted her politics. Once a self-identified lifelong Democrat, she now describes herself as a “new Republican conservative” due to her frustration over the handling of transgender athletes in women’s sports. She voiced support for policies proposed by President Donald Trump that would condition federal funding on maintaining sex-based competition.
“I saw that I was going to be in a pool with Redmond, and from there I said, ‘OK, let’s do it. I’m going to take the knee,” she explained to Fox News.
Public Reaction and Policy Debate
Turner’s story has struck a chord across the country. A Gallup poll cited in Daily Caller found that 69% of Americans believe transgender athletes should compete in sports based on their sex assigned at birth. Turner’s viral protest video, viewed over one million times, has amplified ongoing national debate around fairness, inclusion, and the evolving rules of competitive sports.
USA Fencing maintains it must follow international regulations, but critics argue that sports bodies need to reassess the impact of these policies on female athletes. Turner’s stand may not have won her a medal, but it has earned her a prominent voice in a contentious and fast-evolving cultural issue.
